Dozens killed in Yemen air strike
At least 30 suspected al-Qaeda militants, possibly including two commanders, are killed in an air strike in Yemen, officials say.

'Humongous' storm hits US Midwest
A major winter storm makes its way across the US Midwest, killing six people, snarling holiday travel and cutting power supplies.

China angered by 'interference'
China accuses foreign diplomats of meddling in its internal affairs after criticism of the trial of prominent dissident Liu Xiaobo.

Israeli man killed in West Bank
An Israeli man has been shot dead in his car near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, Israel's military says.

Japan PM sorry over funds scandal
Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama has apologised after two former aides were indicted with violating laws on political funding.

Iraqi bomb blasts leave 23 dead
At least 23 people are killed and scores are wounded in a series of bomb blasts in Iraq.

US-Brazil boy custody battle ends
A US man is reunited with his nine-year-old son after a long custody battle with Brazilian relatives that drew in US politicians.

HP camera 'can't see' black faces
A video comparing a webcam's facial recognition response to a white woman and a black man is a YouTube hit.

Google Maps, Facebook and Twitter join search for Santa
A 50-year old tradition has gone hi-tech as children track Santa via Google Maps, Facebook and Twitter.

Hughes axe leaves Ferguson fuming
Sir Alex Ferguson brands Manchester City's conduct in Mark Hughes's dismissal as "unacceptable".

Schumacher targets 2010 title
Michael Schumacher says he will be challenging to win another Formula 1 title in 2010 after announcing his return to the sport.

Watching flocks
Shepherds in the West Bank see livelihoods dwindle

Grain of truth?
Hunger-hit Eritrea denies cereal grab, as thousands flee

Christmas shock
Barcelona cards bear stark images in anti-crime drive

Prison break
Beauty contests aim to calm Rio's tense jails

UN action shameful, says Eritrea
Eritrea says sanctions imposed by the UN are shameful and dismisses claims it backs militants in Somalia.

Niger vows to arrest dissidents
Niger says it will arrest three exiled opposition leaders - jeopardising crisis talks on the country's political deadlock.

Venezuela in threat to carmakers
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez tells car companies they must share their technological skills or leave the country.

Arrests in Mexico revenge murders
Four people are held over the murder of the family of a Mexican marine who died during a high-profile drugs raid.

Five sentenced to death by China
Five more people are sentenced to death for the violence in China's Xinjiang region in July, bringing the total to 22.

Philippine vessels collide at sea
At least 27 people are missing after a passenger ferry collided with a fishing boat in the Philippines, officials say.

Russia-Georgia crossing to reopen
Russia and Georgia agree to reopen a border crossing that has been closed since July 2006, Georgia's foreign ministry says.

Ban drink-driving, Medvedev says
Russia's President Medvedev announces zero tolerance for drink-driving - a major cause of death among Russian men.

Bethlehem celebrates Christmas
Thousands of Christian pilgrims gather in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, to take part in ceremonies and celebrations to mark the anniversary of his birth.

Iran jails ex-government figure
An Iranian court jails a former government spokesman who crossed over to the opposition.

Violence marks India new state strike
The start of a two-day strike by supporters of a planned new Indian state, Telangana, brings violence to the region.

Deadly explosion rocks Peshawar
A big explosion hits a busy road in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, with at least four people reported killed.

Uneasy truce in South Sudan town
Will Ross reports on the simmering tensions in a southern Sudanese town after a year where more than 2,000 people died in tribal clashes in the country.

Kingdom of Tonga sheds '19th Century' image
Tonga's 150-year-old monarchy is about to diminish as a democratically elected parliament takes over, as John Pickford reports.

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