Khmer Rouge Duch in release plea
Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch stuns a UN-backed war crimes tribunal by asking to be released on the final day of his trial.

Dubai debt fears hit Asian shares
Worries about Dubai's debt problems spill over into Asian trading, leading to a sharp fall in stock markets.

Iran 'confiscates Nobel medal'
The Nobel Peace Prize medal won by Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi is confiscated by authorities, she says.

Irish Church apologises for abuse
The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland says he is deeply sorry about child abuse by priests following a damning report.

Rich 'should help Amazon forests'
Nine nations in the Amazon region call on rich countries to provide poorer nations with the funds to preserve forests.

Saudi Arabia floods leave 77 dead
Floods in Saudi Arabia kill 77 people, amid fears that scores more are missing, after the heaviest rainfall in years.

Australian state bans jump racing
Steeplechase and hurdle racing in Australia's state of Victoria will be banned in 2010, prompted by 20 deaths of horses in two years.

US man 'locks sons in car boot'
A US man appears in court in Massachusetts accused of locking his two sons in his car boot while he went shopping.

Mystery as Delhi admits paying 22,000 'ghost workers'
The mayor of India's capital, Delhi, admits the city has been paying salaries to more than 20,000 employees who do not exist.

Serbian shoe-thrower fined for parliament outburst
A Serbian MP causes a stir in parliament by throwing her shoes at the deputy speaker.

Del Potro win eliminates Murray
Juan Martin del Potro beats top seed Roger Federer to reach the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals - and knock out Andy Murray.

Murray out despite Verdasco win
Andy Murray exits the ATP World Tour Finals in bizarre fashion as the group stage comes down to the percentage of games won.

'God watched him'
New life for Jewish toddler orphaned in Mumbai attacks

Mississippi crime
Why one man is facing his 6th trial for the same crime

Sun, sea and mob
Can an ethical holiday help fight the Mafia?

Funds win on Liberia's 1978 debt
A High Court in London orders Liberia to pay two investment funds more than $20m (£12m) for a debt dating back to 1978.

Nigeria leader has heart problem
Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has a heart condition, his spokesman says, after he went to hospital in Saudi Arabia.

UK hacker to appeal over extradition
Lawyers for computer hacker Gary McKinnon are to challenge the home secretary's decision not to block his extradition to the US.

CIA's secret magic manual on sale
A secret CIA manual that instructed agents on the use of magic tricks during the Cold War has gone on sale.

Australia emissions plan in chaos
Plans for a new law on carbon emissions trading in Australia are thrown into chaos by an opposition revolt.

Poll bid after Philippine murders
A Philippine mayor whose supporters were killed in a suspected political ambush files his nomination for governor.

Afghan raid: German general quits
Germany's top soldier resigns over allegations of a cover-up related to a Nato air strike in Afghanistan that killed civilians.

Gun attack at Hungary university
A student opens fire at a university in Hungary, killing one person and wounding three others, university officials say.

Iran warned on nuclear 'dead end'
Investigations into Iran's nuclear programme will hit a "dead end" unless Tehran co-operates, the UN nuclear chief warns.

Turkey mulls Iran Raelian's fate
Turkey contemplates the fate of an arrested Iranian leader of the Raelian movement, who says she is fleeing persecution.

Mumbai remembers terror attacks
Ceremonies are held in India on the first anniversary of a series of devastating attacks on the city of Mumbai.

S Korean racially abused Indian
A South Korean man is fined $865 for racially insulting an Indian professor in the first case of its kind in the country.

Afghanistan: An unholy madness?
Hugh Sykes reports on the deeply complex political puzzle that poverty-stricken Afghanistan is facing.

Obama's tough Mid-East conflict lessons
Jeremy Bowen considers how the conflict has taught US President Barack Obama hard and humiliating lessons.

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