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Violent storms that ripped through the southern United States on Wednesday are now known to have killed more than 250 people. A state of emergency has been declared in Alabama. One of the worst-hit places there was Tuscaloosa, where Mike Honeysutt was running his grocery store when the tornado hit.

"The power went out, and the building started shaking. The windows were shaking, and part of the roof was flying off the building. The windows came into the front, and then the wind started blowing stuff off the shelves."

President Obama described the loss of life as "heartbreaking" and announced he'd visit the stricken areas.

"I will travel myself to Alabama tomorrow to meet with those leading the response efforts, as well as the families who are reeling from this disaster. I also want to commend all the men and women who have been working around the clock for the last few days to save the lives of their friends and neighbours and to begin the long work of rebuilding these communities."

President Obama has confirmed a major reshuffle of his national security team. General David Petraeus, the top US officer in Afghanistan, is being nominated as the next director of the CIA. He'll replace Leon Panetta, who is to become the new defence secretary, taking over from Robert Gates. Mr Gates is retiring at the end of June.

At least 15 people have been killed in a suspected suicide bomb attack in the main square of the Moroccan city of Marrakesh. Over 20 people were injured. Here's Chloe Arnold.

The bomb exploded at the busy Argana cafe in Djemaa el-Fna square in Marrakesh. It's a popular place with tourists, thousands of whom visit the city every year. It wasn't yet clear whether the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. Eyewitnesses spoke of seeing a man carrying a bag into the cafe moments before the blast. The roof above the restaurant's upstairs terrace was ripped off by the force of the explosion. The interior ministry has confirmed this was a bomb attack but hasn't yet said who they consider may have been responsible.

Human rights activists in Syria say at least 500 people are believed to have been killed in six weeks of protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. There's no independent confirmation of the figure. The authorities have prevented international journalists from entering the country.

Britain has withdrawn its invitation to the Syrian ambassador to attend the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. A Foreign Office statement said that following attacks on civilians by the Syrian security forces, it would be unacceptable for the ambassador to go to the wedding. In a BBC interview, the ambassador, Sami Khiyami, described the decision as "embarrassing" but not surprising. He suggested that media pressure was to blame.

In the past hour, Prince William has been out greeting the crowds in central London, who are camping out on the streets ahead of the royal wedding. He joked with well-wishers that all he needed to do was remember his lines.

I'm John Jason. You're listening to the latest World News from the BBC.

Rebel forces and troops loyal to the Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi have continued to battle for control of a border crossing on the country's western frontier. Witnesses said the fighting has spilled into Tunisian territory. In the rebel-held western city of Misrata, a doctor said 12 rebel fighters had been killed in an apparent Nato air strike. Nato acknowledged that its aircraft had struck a number of combat vehicles south of Misrata. Ian Pannell reports from Tripoli.

A Nato official says its aircraft hit a number of combat vehicles near Misrata on Wednesday. There's been intense fighting in the area this week, with the rebels trying to fend off a renewed government offensive. However, it appears that as many as 12 rebels may have been killed when they were mistaken for Gaddafi loyalists. Nato says it can't confirm that some of the vehicles it hit did belong to the opposition but that it regrets any loss of life.

A husband and wife in the United States on trial on charges of kidnapping an 11-year-old girl and holding her captive for 18 years have changed their plea to guilty. Phillip and Nancy Garrido admitted abducting Jaycee Dugard as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors. Ms Dugard was repeatedly raped and had two children during her captivity at the couple's home in California.

Unemployment in Germany, Europe's largest economy, is at its lowest in nearly two decades. Figures for this month put it at three million. Our Berlin correspondent is Stephen Evans.

Falling unemployment in Germany stems from the accelerating growth of the economy, faster in the first three months of 2011 than the last three months of 2010. Exports of manufactured goods like cars and machinery for factories have been strong. 

Economists say that the economy is simply picking up from where it left off before the 2007 global crisis. One cloud on the horizon may be inflation. Figures yesterday showed it rising.