World news headlines from BBC News

FBI to aid Afghan war leak probe - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:10:25 +0000

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates calls in the FBI to help investigate the leaking of 90,000 classified papers related to the Afghan war.

Lebanon vow at Saudi-Syrian talks - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:21:11 +0000

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia pledge to help stabilise Lebanon.

Frenchwoman 'smothered newborns' - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:32:30 +0000

A Frenchwoman admits killing eight newborn babies after remains are found but insists her husband knew nothing, prosecutors say.

Serbia pushes for UN Kosovo text - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:45:31 +0000

Serbia seeks support for UN resolution opposing unilateral secession in territorial disputes such as that involving Kosovo.

DR Congo boat sinking 'kills 140' - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:32:33 +0000

About 140 people are feared dead as a boat capsizes on a river in the western Bandundu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Moscow suffers 'hottest day ever' - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:08:23 +0000

Fires rage around Russia's capital Moscow after its hottest day on record, with temperatures reaching 39C (102F).

Greek police clash with hauliers - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:48:31 +0000

Greek police fire tear gas to disperse hundreds of lorry drivers protesting in Athens against a government order to end their strike.

Pakistan 'less afraid of Taliban' - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:22:24 +0000

Pakistanis are less afraid the country will be taken over by extremists and feel less threatened by the Taliban than last year, research suggests.

Cuban hunger striker returns home - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:20:37 +0000

Cuban dissident Guillermo Farinas, who was on hunger strike for more than 130 days, is released from hospital.

Woerth denies L'Oreal wrongdoing - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:44:15 +0000

France's Labour Minister Eric Woerth tells police investigating the finances of L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt he has done nothing wrong.

US military graves 'mislabelled' - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:39:31 +0000

As many as 6,600 graves at Arlington National Cemetery were mislabelled or unmarked because of incompetence among managers, a US senator says.

Galapagos off Unesco danger list - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:11:11 +0000

A Unesco panel votes to remove the Galapagos Islands from a "red list" of endangered heritage sites, drawing protests from a leading conservation group.

Mother bear rescues cub from net - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:55:46 +0000

Amateur video captures footage of a mother bear saving her cub from a fishing net in Anchorage, Alaska.

South Africa axes half its traditional rulers - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:46:47 +0000

Half of South Africa's traditional kings and queens will no longer be recognised, a six-year government study concludes.

Arizona takes law fight to appeal - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:34:46 +0000

Arizona lodges an appeal against a federal court's decision to block parts of an anti-immigration law hours before it came into effect.

Citigroup agrees $75m fraud fine - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:59:05 +0000

Banking giant Citigroup agrees to pay $75m to settle civil charges that it misled investors over potential losses from subprime mortgages.

Paraguay rebel 'dies in shootout' - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:04:45 +0000

Paraguayan police shoot dead a reputed rebel leader as he resists arrest in the north of the country, officials say.

Talks on Venezuela-Colombia row - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:08:36 +0000

South American regional group Unasur is set to address the breakdown in ties between Venezuela and Colombia.

Bashir's party doubts Sudan vote - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:26:28 +0000

President Bashir's NCP says the referendum on south Sudan's secession cannot happen until the internal border is decided.

Zimbabwe football chief suspended - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:36:54 +0000

The Zimbabwe Football Association suspends chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya over match-fixing allegations.

Chemicals washed into China river - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:00:44 +0000

Rescue teams in north-east China are working to retrieve 3,000 barrels of chemicals washed into a major river, state media say.

Japanese tanker in damage mystery - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:45:34 +0000

Officials investigate damage to a Japanese oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, amid reports of a collision or an attack.

'Nazi' Kunz may be tried as minor - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:28:42 +0000

An 88-year-old man charged with taking part in the killing of 430,000 Jews at a Nazi death camp may be tried as a minor, officials say.

'Hijack' foiled at Moscow airport - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:39:49 +0000

Russian security forces at Moscow's Domodedovo airport arrest a man suspected of trying to hijack a plane.

Arab League endorses direct talks - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:25:34 +0000

The Arab League backs direct Palestinian peace talks with the Israelis, but leaves the timing to the Palestinians, officials say.

Gun and bomb attacks hit Baghdad - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:01:34 +0000

At least 16 people, including several security force members, are killed in shootings and explosions in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, officials say.

Scores die in Pakistan monsoons - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:48:32 +0000

Floods triggered by monsoon rains kill at least 100 people in north-west Pakistan, and further downpours are forecast.

Second missing US sailor 'dead' - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:57:11 +0000

Jarod Newlove, the second of two US servicemen who went missing in Afghanistan last week, is found dead, officials say.

Fixed retirement age to be axed - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:59:50 +0000

People reaching the age of 65 will no longer be forced to retire from October next year, under plans announced by the government.

Lockerbie inquiry 'may visit UK' - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:53:21 +0000

The US senator who is to chair a congressional inquiry into the Lockerbie bomber release says he may send investigators to the UK.

Oil firms' profits almost double - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:56:19 +0000

Oil giants Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil see profits almost double in the week rival BP suffered record losses.

China allows IMF report release - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:54:51 +0000

China allows the publication of an International Monetary Fund staff report on its economy for the first time since 2006.

Toyota announces fresh car recall - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:11:18 +0000

Toyota is recalling almost 430,000 vehicles in the US and Japan amid concern over steering problems.

Morgan stars as England dominate - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:06:09 +0000

Eoin Morgan makes a superb maiden Test century as England reach an imposing 331-4 after day one of the first Test against Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

Liverpool win European opener - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:48:32 +0000

David Ngog's double strike eases an inexperienced Liverpool side to victory over Rabotnicki in their Europa League third qualifying round first leg.

Idowu wins Euro triple jump gold - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:34:11 +0000

Triple jumper Phillips Idowu wins Great Britain's second gold of the European Championships as Martyn Bernard takes high jump bronze.

No charges for Jackson's doctors - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:58:21 +0000

Seven doctors who treated Michael Jackson in the years before his death will not face charges, US investigators say.

Capsules to mark Lennon's legacy - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:52:34 +0000

Three time capsules are to be created on what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday, to be dedicated at a ceremony in the US.

Bertrand says vocal 'was not me' - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:50:04 +0000

Musician Plastic Bertrand apparently admits to a Belgian newspaper that he did not sing on signature hit Ca Plane Pour Moi.

Pakistan monsoons kill at least 100 - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:25:06 +0000

With monsoons being heavier than normal, floods in north-west Pakistan have killed at least 100 people.

Bollywood version of Austen's Emma - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:56:23 +0000

A modern Bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma is set to hit the big screen. Anna Holligan went to meet its stars.

Greek police clash with hauliers - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:11:34 +0000

Greek police have fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of lorry drivers protesting in Athens.

Prisoner rickshaw rehabilitation - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:10:23 +0000

The problems of congested roads and prisoner rehabilitation are being tackled at the same time in a project in Rome.

'Saffron King' acts as kitchen diplomat - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:03:20 +0000

A man known as the "Saffron King" is making his own attempt at kitchen diplomacy for Iran.

Record temperatures in Moscow - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:15:53 +0000

The record-breaking heatwave in Russia which began a month ago sparked fires across the country, including around the capital Moscow, which now lies under a thick layer of smog.

Star Wars hits New York subway - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:46:58 +0000

Meet New York's improvisational film makers who have been performing scenes from cult films in public places.

Commonwealth concern in India - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:45:40 +0000

As David Cameron visits one of India's Commonwealth Games venues, there are questions about whether the event is a wise way to spend so much money.

One-minute World News - Fri, 9 Jul 2010 07:56:06 +0000

Watch the latest news summary from BBC World News. International news updated 24 hours a day.

Big beast - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:00:45 +0000

EU's new creature lurks in diplomatic jungle

Holding out - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:12:31 +0000

Direct peace talks are tough sell to weary Palestinians

In pictures - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:32:46 +0000

Monsoon rains trigger devastating floods in Pakistan

Deep blue fuels - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:06:07 +0000

Russian sub searches Lake Baikal for energy reserves

Picture of health? - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:09:05 +0000

Hosni Mubarak's busy schedule may dispel health rumours

Horse patrol - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:12:42 +0000

US agents saddle up along the Mexican border

Emotional vote - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:27:48 +0000

Joy and tears as Spanish region of Catalonia bans bullfighting

Hero's welcome? - Fri, 9 Jul 2010 19:07:42 +0000

Russia's returning spies will find it difficult to adjust