Today on the blog I'm introducing one of the most exciting features on our new site: Breaking History.

Keesing's is a staple on news desks, in information agencies, and for government departments across the globe, because we provide instant historical perspective on the critical developments of today. Our new Breaking History section lets all our users exploit the archive's power just as these agencies do: each week, we break down a key news story with analysis, background, and a timeline with links to contemporary coverage from Keesing's century-spanning archive. Each Breaking History report is free to access and available in  printer-friendly and email versions. Academics, students, and news-junkies alike can use these comprehensive briefings to master at a glance the history behind today's headlines.

Breaking History is researched by an expert writer for Keesing's Record of World Events, to the same exacting standards we uphold in our monthly publication. Each report contains up to one hundred links to articles in our archive, so you can follow up in depth the details that interest you. We cover six sections: Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and global stories on international organisations and issues, the environment, space, and science. Topics we've covered so far include the execution of Saddam Hussein, North Korea's nuclear programme, the crisis in Darfur, and the career of the Mars Global Surveyor.

As ever, we'd love your feedback on this feature - otherwise, keep checking back for comprehensive context and analysis on history as it breaks.

Welcome to the new Keesing's Archive online: 76 years of comprehensive, full-coverage world news, indexed and tagged to provide a fully searchable archive. We've spent thousands of hours digitising decades-old copy and developing features to make the site into an indispensable resource. This blog will keep you up to date with site developments and improvements, offer walking tours of our functions and features, and tell you how we converted our historic publication into a modern research tool. Please check back over the coming days to follow as we develop the site.

While the site is in beta form, we're especially interested in your feedback on features, functionality, and the look and feel of the site. We want to hear about features you'd like to see, and I'll be solicting feedback on some of our future plans. We've been working on the site for over a year: let us know what you want to see next. Each page has a 'report a problem' function - please tell us if you find anything, and we'll fix it. You can send feedback here.

Meanwhile, you can start using the site by searching for the topics that interest you. Visit our Breaking History section - free, historical context on current events, today's news in the light of 76 years of history. You can learn more about Keesing's Worldwide, the site, and our content, at the About Us section. You can also refer to our full help files or contact form for any queries.We hope you enjoy using the site, and that you'll let us know your impressions and ideas. Next on the blog: our first feature tour, Breaking History.