Inquiry focuses on Iraq 'threat'
The UK "distanced itself" from talk of removing Saddam Hussein in early 2001 despite the threat he posed, the Iraq inquiry is told.

China executes tainted milk pair
China executes two people over a scandal involving tainted milk powder that resulted in six children dying, state media say.

HIV infections and deaths drop
The death toll from HIV-Aids has dropped by 10% thanks to greater access to powerful drugs, latest figures show.

'One killed' in Benin pirate raid
Pirates have attacked an oil tanker off the coast of west Africa, killing a Ukrainian seaman, the commander of Benin's naval forces says.

Philippine poll deaths reach 46
At least 46 people are now known to have died in a mass political killing in the Philippines, and a state of emergency is declared.

Most 'orphans' have living parent
At least four out of five children in orphanages worldwide have a living parent, leading charity Save the Children says.

Cot recall after suffocation link
More than two million cots are recalled in the US and Canada over fears that a defect could cause children to suffocate.

UK reveals secret bank rescue loans
The Bank England reveals it lent RBS and HBOS £61.6bn in emergency funding in October and November 2008.

Climate 'drives African conflict'
Climate is a major driver of conflict across Africa, researchers say, with future warming likely to increase civil wars by 50% in 20 years.

Court is kind to 'Robin Hood' banker who helped poor
A German bank employee who transferred money illegally from rich to poor clients receives a suspended prison term.

RIP Lucky - world's oldest sheep killed by heatwave
Lucky, the world's oldest sheep, has died at the age of 23 - twice the normal life expectancy - after a record heatwave in Australia.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Live - Del Potro v Verdasco
US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro takes on Fernando Verdasco in Group A at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
India batsmen dominate Sri Lanka
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag make hundreds as India take control of the second Test on day one in Kanpur.

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Warming globe
The past, present and possible future of climate change

Clan rivalries
Tensions behind the Philippines political massacre

Hummus wars
Who makes best version of the Mid-East dish?

On the street
Kenya orphans face drug addiction and violence

Bloody festival
Protests as Nepal stages huge animal sacrifice event

Paralysed state
Ahmed Rashid on conspiracy theories sweeping Pakistan

US economic growth revised down
The US economy grew at an annual pace of 2.8% between July and September, less than the 3.5% previously forecast.

Japan Airlines secures bail-out
Japan Airlines announces it has secured government approval for a loan that will allow it to continue flying.

South African economy grows again
South Africa exits a nine-month recession after its economy returned to growth between July and September.

Protests grow over digital bill
Petitions and protests are planned in the wake of government plans to tackle persistent pirates.

Europe votes on new telecoms law
MEPs are due to pass a bill that could strengthen net users' rights and make broadband universal across Europe.

Opera 'censors' Chinese content
Web browser Opera has closed a loophole which allowed Chinese users to access sites banned by the government.

Tintin film 'already finished'
Filming on Steven Spielberg's Tintin movie is finished, says producer Peter Jackson, but it will take two years to finish the effects.

US viewers complain over gay kiss
American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert's performance at Sunday's American Music Awards prompts more than 1500 complaints by viewers.

Beams collide in Big Bang machine
Engineers operating the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have smashed together proton beams in the machine for the first time.

US 'will announce climate target'
The US will give a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions ahead of next month's UN climate summit, officials say.

Bottling-up anger 'bad for heart'
Men who do not openly express their anger if unfairly treated at work double their risk of a heart attack, researchers say.

Congo 'warlords' ICC trial opens
The trial of two alleged Congolese militia leaders begins at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Bid to stop 'cruel' Zulu ritual
Animal campaigners will meet Zulu leaders in a bid to stop a bull-killing ritual which is part of a Zulu thanksgiving ceremony.

Obama in key talks with Indian PM
US President Barack Obama holds talks with Indian PM Manmohan Singh, in the first state reception of his presidency.

Flu vaccine put on hold in Canada
GlaxoSmithKline tells doctors in Canada to stop using a batch of its swine flu, amid reports of severe side effects.

Abuse of Tajik women 'widespread'
Amnesty accuses Tajikistan of failing to protect women, saying nearly half are raped, beaten or abused by their families.

Thailand's former PM Samak dies
The former Thai PM Samak Sundaravej dies of cancer after a long political career which ended with a cookery show.

Spain holds youths over Eta links
At least 36 people are arrested overnight in Spain as part of a police operation against a banned youth group linked to radical Basque separatism.

Czech regret over sterilisation
The Czech government expresses regret over the illegal sterilisation of Roma women and announces a series of prevention measures.

Jordan parliament dissolved by king
Jordan's King Abdullah dissolves the country's parliament halfway through its four-year term and calls for early elections.

Three injured in strikes on Gaza
Three Palestinians have been injured in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical workers say.

US Afghan decision 'within days'
The US president will announce his decision on whether to deploy more US troops to Afghanistan "within days", aides say.

Ayodhya report put to parliament
The Indian government presents in parliament an inquiry report into the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid mosque.

Boy, 4, stabbed to death at flat
Police wait to question a father suspected of stabbing his four-year-old son to death in south London.

Police arrests 'made to get DNA'
Police are accused of making arrests just to gather DNA, as genetic advisers call for new regulation on testing.

Winter deaths 'soared this year'
The number of excess deaths in England and Wales last winter was the highest since 1999/2000, figures show.

Lloyds launches record share sale
Lloyds Banking Group launches the UK's biggest rights issue, worth £13.5bn, selling shares at a discounted price of 37p.

Woman's body found in river
Rescue teams searching for a missing woman who disappeared two days ago recover a body near Brecon, Powys.

Last salute for army bomb victim
The widow of an army explosives expert killed in Afghanistan and buried with full military honours in Cornwall praises her "warrior" husband.