Rockets hit Israel from Lebanon
Rockets are fired from Lebanon into northern Israel raising fears that the current conflict in Gaza could spill over.

'No progress' in Europe gas talks
Talks in Brussels to try to end the row disrupting Europe's gas supplies end with no apparent progress.

US to lead new anti-pirate force
The US will lead a new international force to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia, the US navy says.

Microsoft begins Windows 7 push
Microsoft's Steve Ballmer kicked off the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas by announcing the first public release of Windows 7.

Pakistan sacks security adviser
Islamabad removes its national security adviser hours after confirming the surviving Mumbai gunman is a Pakistani.

Canada expels US woman deserter
A US army deserter and mother of three is ordered to leave Canada after her appeal for refuge fails.

Asia job cuts amid economy woes
Two large Asian technology firms, TDK and Lenovo, announce a total of 10,500 job cuts after a fall in demand.

Shock at Senegal gay jail terms
Activists condemn the jailing in Senegal of nine gay men for eight years - reportedly the heaviest sentences passed over homosexual acts.

Top Sri Lankan editor shot dead
The editor of a Sri Lankan newspaper often critical of the government is shot dead in the commercial capital, Colombo.

US national gallery gets iconic Obama image
An iconic portrait of Barack Obama will become part of the permanent collection at the US National Portrait Gallery.

Crucifix removed from English church for being 'too scary'
A sculpture of Christ is removed from outside a church in West Sussex after its vicar said it was "scaring young children".

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Pietersen home as England regroup
Kevin Pietersen arrives home as England look to the future after his resignation as captain, with Andrew Strauss taking over.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Man City fail in Santa Cruz bid
Blackburn reject a bid in excess of £12m from Manchester City for striker Roque Santa Cruz.

Best Bushisms
How the outgoing US president tied his tongue in knots

Deep rifts
Why Russia and Ukraine are letting Europe go cold

Frugal fashion
China's once extravagant young learn to economise

Diary from Swat
Bodies, beatings and mistrust in Taleban stronghold

FROM NEWSNIGHT >>
Boyloaf's boys
Speedboat gangs of Niger Delta

Ethiopia clamps down on khat dens
A crackdown is launched in Ethiopia on parlours where young men chew the narcotic khat.

Kenya media welcomes law review
The Kenyan media cautiously welcomes President Mwai Kibaki's review into a contentious media law, just days after he signed the bill.

Mexico takes urgent economy steps
Mexico unveils emergency measures to protect its economy, including freezing fuel prices and creating thousands of new jobs.

US cartoon provokes Colombia ire
Colombian coffee growers plan to sue a US cartoonist for a cartoon they say links their main advertising figure with violence.

Veteran Chinese activist jailed
Chinese activist Wang Rongqing is sentenced to six years in jail for helping set up an opposition party.

China tourism 'hit by downturn'
The number of foreign visitors to China fell in 2008, despite an anticipated tourist boom for the Beijing Olympics.

Dell set to cut 1,900 Irish jobs
Computer giant Dell is to shed 1,900 of the 3,000 jobs at its manufacturing site in Limerick in the Irish Republic.

Vatican deplores Gaza situation
The Vatican's justice minister criticises Israel's actions and compares Gaza to a "big concentration camp".

Women banned from Baghdad shrine
Iraqi authorities close a major Shia shrine in Baghdad to women amid security concerns as the rite of Ashura reaches its climax.

Blackwater men plead not guilty
Five employees of US security firm Blackwater plead not guilty in a US court to the manslaughter of 17 Iraqis in 2007.

Army 'takes more Tiger territory'
Sri Lankan troops say they have taken more territory from Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

India in US 'missile shield talks'
India has been holding initial talks with the US over the purchase of its missile defence shield, a UK newspaper says.

Afghanistan's continuing misery
More than seven years of Western aid has failed to make a real impact on daily life in Afghanistan, the BBC's Hugh Sykes reports.

What Cubans brought to Miami
The son of Cuban exiles living in the US, the BBC's Americas editor Emilio San Pedro talks about growing up in a proud immigrant community.

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