Obama: EU 'must focus on growth'

Sun, 20 May 2012 06:09:32 GMT

Speaking after the G8 summit, US President Obama says leaders agree that economies must focus on jobs and growth to boost recovery.

Three killed in Italy earthquake

Sun, 20 May 2012 07:25:54 GMT

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake in northern Italy kills at least three people and causes thousands of others to flee into the streets.

Sri Lanka general to be released

Sun, 20 May 2012 03:41:25 GMT

Sri Lanka's President Rajapaksa has signed papers to free his political rival General Sarath Fonseka from prison - three years after the civil war ended.

Serbia votes for new president

Sun, 20 May 2012 05:08:14 GMT

Voters in Serbia have a choice between a reformist and a nationalist as they vote for a president, months after winning EU candidate status.

Sudan's Bashir 'ready for peace'

Sun, 20 May 2012 03:54:42 GMT

After crisis talks with Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, African Union mediator Thabo Mbeki says the president is committed to security agreements with South Sudan.

China activist Chen lands in US

Sun, 20 May 2012 03:49:36 GMT

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng arrives in New York, after his escape to the US embassy in Beijing last month sparked a diplomatic crisis.

Benghazi votes in local elections

Sat, 19 May 2012 21:48:30 GMT

Residents in the Libyan city of Benghazi vote in local council elections, the first polls held in the city since the 1960s.

French rally car crash kills two

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:33:13 GMT

A rally car ploughs into spectators in the Var region of southern France, killing a marshal and one other person, and injuring 17.

Dominican vote likely to be close

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:36:37 GMT

Two veteran politicians contest elections in the Dominican Republic after a presidential campaign dominated by concerns over rising food and fuel costs.

Bombs kill soldiers in Mogadishu

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:37:37 GMT

Somali government soldiers are among five people killed in two bomb attacks in the capital Mogadishu blamed on al-Shabab Islamist fighters.

Fourth Mexican officer detained

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:18:57 GMT

A fourth senior Mexican officer is detained as part of an investigation into links between the army and drug trafficking cartels.

Facebook boss in surprise wedding

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:16:38 GMT

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg ends a hectic week by getting married to long -time girlfriend Priscilla Chan in a surprise ceremony at his home.

Inside world's ‘priciest house’

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:36:24 GMT

The first pictures are released showing inside the "world's most expensive house", owned by the Ambani family in Mumbai.

Aborted lift-off for spaceship

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:58:05 GMT

The US firm SpaceX aborts the lift-off of its Falcon rocket and Dragon ship to the International Space Station.

Maryland allows same-sex divorce

Fri, 18 May 2012 21:10:58 GMT

The highest court in Maryland allows gay couples to divorce, even though same-sex marriage is not yet allowed in that US state.

Prisoners surrender in Honduras

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:34:26 GMT

Inmates who took control of a jail in Honduras on Wednesday agree to surrender after clashes that killed one prisoner and injured another 11.

Cuban offshore oil attempt fails

Fri, 18 May 2012 20:00:34 GMT

Spain's Repsol oil company says a first attempt to find oil off Cuba's northern coast has been unsuccessful.

Obama unveils US Africa food plan

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:45:40 GMT

US President Barack Obama announces a $3bn (£1.9bn) plan to boost food security in Africa ahead of a G-8 summit near Washington.

Malawi 'to overturn ban on gays'

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:19:04 GMT

President Joyce Banda says she wants Malawi to overturn its ban on homosexual acts - the first African country to do so since 1994.

UK force 'to stay in Afghanistan'

Sun, 20 May 2012 05:39:26 GMT

A small number of British soldiers could remain in Afghanistan after forces withdraw in 2014, a senior UK government official says.

China tunnel explosion 'kills 20'

Sat, 19 May 2012 12:44:10 GMT

An explosion in a road tunnel being constructed in central China's Hunan province kills at least 20 people, state media say.

Chelsea 1-1 Bayern Munich (aet, 4-3 pens)

Sat, 19 May 2012 21:32:42 GMT

Chelsea achieve a dramatic Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich following a penalty shoot-out at the home of the German side.

School bomb kills girl in Italy

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:54:23 GMT

A bomb outside a school in the southern Italian city of Brindisi kills a teenage girl and injures five other people as children gather for classes.

Powerful car bomb hits Syria city

Sat, 19 May 2012 14:01:49 GMT

At least nine people are killed and dozens injured after a powerful car bomb explodes in eastern Syria, officials say.

Protesters angered by Gulf union

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:54:23 GMT

Thousands of Bahrainis protest outside the capital against a plan to create a union of Gulf Arab countries, with similar demonstrations in Tehran and Dubai.

Phone hack police chief to retire

Sun, 20 May 2012 06:56:18 GMT

The senior Scotland Yard officer in charge of three linked phone-hacking investigations will retire later this year, the Met Police confirms.

Torch takes in South Devon coast

Sat, 19 May 2012 19:34:50 GMT

The Olympic flame is being carried from Plymouth to Exeter on the second day of the torch relay ahead of the London 2012 Games.

G8 backs Greek euro membership

Sat, 19 May 2012 21:18:29 GMT

The leaders of the G8 group of major economies say they want Greece to remain in the eurozone, and commit to promoting growth.

Facebook shares see modest debut

Fri, 18 May 2012 20:49:36 GMT

Facebook shares end a volatile first day of trading at $38.23, barely above the company's initial pricing, having initially jumped more than 10%.

Market jitters over eurozone woes

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:31:52 GMT

European markets suffer a nervous session with investors unsettled by a downgrade for Spanish banks and the political crisis in Greece.

Di Matteo quiet on Chelsea future

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:07:29 GMT

Roberto Di Matteo refuses to be drawn on his long-term Chelsea future - even after winning the Champions League.

England target Chanderpaul wicket

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:24:45 GMT

Ian Bell feels the wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul holds the key to England's chances on the fourth day of the first Test.

Win means everything - Allardyce

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:10:21 GMT

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says winning promotion back to the Premier League is one of the greatest achievements of his career.

Baritone Fischer-Dieskau dies

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:13:52 GMT

The respected German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, famed for his performances of Schubert's song cycle Winter Journey, dies at the age of 86.

Obama leads Donna Summer tributes

Fri, 18 May 2012 08:59:34 GMT

President Barack Obama joins a host of music industry luminaries in paying tribute to Donna Summer following the disco star's death at the age of 63.

Moffat to receive special Bafta

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:13:47 GMT

Doctor Who producer and Sherlock co-creator Steven Moffat is to receive a special prize at this year's Bafta TV awards, organisers announce.

VIDEO: Norway's self-sufficient prison

Sun, 20 May 2012 04:11:30 GMT

The island of Bastoey is home to a prison population that is allowed to wander woods, fields and beaches unhindered by the unarmed guards.

VIDEO: First theatre opens in SA's Soweto

Sat, 19 May 2012 22:47:22 GMT

South Africa is to opens its first theatre in a township - Soweto - once home to former President Nelson Mandela.

VIDEO: Floating island of waste in Maldives

Sat, 19 May 2012 23:14:53 GMT

Although the Maldives are known as an unspoilt tourist paradise, the islands struggle with managing their waste, as the BBC discovered on a visit to an 'apocalyptic' floating island waste dump.

VIDEO: Deadly bomb blast at Italy school

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:02:56 GMT

A bomb has exploded in front of a school in the southern Italian city of Brindisi killing at least one girl and injuring six others.

VIDEO: The low-cost tablets battling Apple

Sat, 19 May 2012 09:03:45 GMT

LJ Rich takes a look at the low-cost tablets battling Apple's dominance in India.

VIDEO: Powerful car bomb hits Syrian city

Sat, 19 May 2012 13:44:40 GMT

At least seven people are killed and dozens injured after a car bomb explodes in eastern Syria.

VIDEO: Sri Lanka parade marks anniversary

Sat, 19 May 2012 15:03:33 GMT

Sri Lanka marks the three-year anniversary of the end of its 26-year civil war with a large military parade in the capital, Colombo.

VIDEO: Concordia salvage details revealed

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:41:36 GMT

The operation to remove the wreck of the Costa Concordia will be the biggest of its kind, at a cost reported to be at least $300m, according to salvage firms and the ship's owners.

VIDEO: One-minute World News

Sun, 20 May 2012 01:45:05 GMT

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

The Chinese who actually like cheese

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:50:06 GMT

The Chinese who actually like cheese... stir-fried of course!

Nato's missile shield 'up and running'

Sun, 20 May 2012 01:10:23 GMT

How worthwhile is Nato's missile defence system?

VIDEO: Dominican Republic's child politicians challenge corruption

Sat, 19 May 2012 16:24:40 GMT

Child politicians in Dominican Republic challenge corruption

Peru faces rethink in fight against rebels

Sun, 20 May 2012 01:16:25 GMT

Doubts over Peru's strategy against Shining Path rebels

Somali expat 'thanked' for being rich

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:39:14 GMT

Expat millionaire 'thanked' by poor Somalis for being rich

Beirut divisions over Syria emerge in graffiti

Sat, 19 May 2012 13:43:21 GMT

Divisions over Syria spray painted across Beirut

Smoke alarms unsettle New York Amish

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:45:33 GMT

Do smoke alarms violate Amish religious freedom?