Egypt welcomes German life term
Egypt's government welcomes a German court's life sentence for a man who murdered a pregnant Egyptian woman.

Crime rings boost ivory smuggling
The last year has seen a big increase in illegal ivory trade with organised crime involved, says the world's monitoring agency.

Hezbollah dismisses Obama pledges
The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group says Barack Obama's promise to engage with Muslims has proved false.

Irish priest freed in Philippines
A 79-year-old Irish priest held for a month by rebels in the Philippines has been released, Irish officials say.

Mining firm 'damages' Great Wall
Authorities in China's Inner Mongolia accuse a mining company of destroying part of one of the oldest sections of the Great Wall.

Storm blamed for Brazil power cut
A severe storm is blamed for widespread power cuts in Brazil which lasted more than five hours, the government says.

Activist 'beaten' after BBC story
An Uzbek activist says he is attacked after contributing to a BBC report on the use of child labour in the cotton industry.

Poor nations vow low-carbon path
Poor countries vulnerable to climate change plot a low-carbon future and challenge richer states to match them.

Chile says no to massive statue of Pope John Paul II
A plan to erect what would be the world's biggest statue of Pope John Paul II has been vetoed by authorities in Chile.

Hi-tech holy water dispensers all the rage amid swine flu fears
Catholic churches in Italy install automatic holy water dispensers to reduce the risk of spreading swine flu.

Suicide keeper battled depression
The widow of Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke, who died after being hit by a train on Tuesday, says he fought depression for six years.

Murray survives late-night battle
A tired-looking Andy Murray beats James Blake in round two of the Paris Masters.

'Justice served'
Egypt reacts to Germany's 'veil martyr' verdict

Tense ties
Why Indonesians are angry at close neighbour Malaysia

Danger tourism
Can Iraq really become a tourist hotspot?

After Arafat
Palestinian dream of independence is remote as ever

Zimbabwe 'torture' witness allowed
A Zimbabwe court allows an ex-arms dealer to testify against MDC aide Roy Bennett, but says it can be alleged he was tortured.

Football star to get Sudan flogging
Nigerian football star Stephen Worgu is sentenced to be flogged in Sudan for drinking alcohol, which is banned.

Chimp attack woman reveals face
A woman who was mauled by a chimpanzee reveals her badly damaged face on the US TV show Oprah nine months later.

US man guilty of newsreader death
A jury finds a US man guilty of killing a female TV newsreader after attacking her attacked at her home in Arkansas.

Thaksin extradition request rejected
Cambodia rejects an extradition request from Thailand for former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, escalating a diplomatic row.

'US envoy to N Korea' after clash
The US says a naval clash between the two Koreas will not affect Washington's decision to send an envoy to Pyongyang.

EU calls for budget deficit cuts
The European Commission calls for 13 members countries to bring their budget deficits below 3% of GDP by 2014 at the latest.

Services remember world war dead
President Barack Obama praises US forces as ceremonies are held around the globe to mark the end 91 years ago of World War I.

Photos 'show Iran arms-ship link'
Israel releases documents and pictures which it says prove that an arms shipment it seized in the Mediterranean came from Iran.

Palestinians mark Arafat's death
Palestinians mark five years since the death of Yasser Arafat, as his successor repeats calls for an end to Israeli settlement building.

Pakistan troops killed in attacks
At least 10 Pakistani soldiers are killed in separate attacks in Mohmand tribal district, close to the border with Afghanistan.

Air India losses more than $1bn
Air India reports a net loss of more than $1bn as a result of falling passenger numbers.

The rail thread that links Europe
Johnny Dymond discovers the enduring delight of travelling on European trains, gleaning a sense of the continent's past and future.

Hungary's 'forgotten' war victims
Thousands of Hungarians were deported to the Soviet Union in the Second World War, but the state pays them scant attention, reports Nick Thorpe.

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