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Gunmen kill nine Chechen police in Russia's Ingushetia

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:29:19 GMT

Nine Chechen police officers were killed today in the Russian republic of Ingushetia after gunmen opened fire on their convoy, Russia's Interfax news agency reported, citing the republic's interior ministry.

African nations unite to defend Sudanese leader

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:11:29 GMT

After bitter wrangling, Africa's leaders agreed to denounce the International Criminal Court and refuse to extradite Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted for crimes against humanity in Darfur.

UN's Ban denied Suu Kyi meeting

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:06:24 GMT

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he was "deeply disappointed" that military-ruled Myanmar's top general had rejected his request to meet with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

North Korea defies US with new missile launches

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:57:46 GMT

North Korea test-fired six missiles today, South Korea's defence ministry said, in an act of defiance towards the United States that further stoked regional tensions already high due to its nuclear test in May.

Obama brightens up the White House

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

With every new administration comes a new era and with it, a new art collection to reflect the shifting sands of American cultural politics. In the Clinton years, it was a frothy portrait of Mamie Eisenhower clad in a pink debutante ballgown that took pride of place on the imperial walls of the White House. George Bush fancied the more muscular patriotism of George Caitlin's "wild frontier" paintings.

Moghul descendant saved from slums by coal board

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

A descendant of India's last Moghul emperor has been saved from a life of utter destitution after she was discovered working at her mother's tea stand in the slums of West Bengal.

Coup leader willing to hold early election

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The self-declared leaders of Honduras showed signs of softening yesterday, indicating a willingness to bring presidential elections forward or even hold a plebiscite on re-instating the man they ousted last weekend.

Singer jailed for forced abortion

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The Algerian singer Cheb Mami has been sentenced to five years in a French prison after being found guilty of forcing an attempted abortion on his former lover. The 42-year-old star of Algeria's popular rai music, whose real name is Mohamed Khelifati, was arrested on his arrival in France on Monday night, having fled to Algeria two years ago.

US nuns on the run from Vatican inquiry

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

American nuns could be said to have their habits in a twist in the face of two investigations by the Vatican into whether they have come to espouse lifestyles and views on the Church that may just be a tad too modern. Except that many don't wear habits any more. They wear regular clothes, even jeans.

Palin drops resignation bombshell

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska who gained her spot on the Republican presidential ticket last year by projecting herself as a maverick and a political outsider, stepped beyond the circle of power last night announcing that she will quit her position by the end of this month.

British embassy staff to stand trial over protests

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

A leading Iranian cleric sharply and unexpectedly raised the temperature in the crisis over the detention of British embassy staff yesterday by announcing that the two employees still being held would be forced to stand trial for inciting post-election violence against the Islamic regime.

Michael Jackson: Bad! And very dangerous

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The barrage of utterly inane celebrity tributes ("inspirational", "a true hero", "a genius", "a gentle soul" "a treasure") was to be expected. The howling fans across the world, broken and gibbering nonsense for the rolling TV news crews ("he ... he died for all of us" etc), the inevitable autopsy results in a few weeks, with their Swiss laboratory inventory of prescription tranquilisers, all this too is standard operating procedure.

Return of the sniper: How ancient skills are experiencing a modern renaissance in Afghanistan

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

All around, the thunderous chatter of machine-gun fire mingles with the smoke of the mortars and the acrid stench of gunpowder. Some soldiers are bellowing battle orders; others strain to hear above the noise. The scene is chaotic but one thing is clear to all: the danger is imminent, the enemy close at hand.

Cardinal Newman moves step closer to sainthood

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:02:20 GMT

Campaigners for the canonisation of John Paul Newman are praying for another miracle after the Pope confirmed that the Cardinal was responsible for curing a case of spinal debility more than 100 years after his death.

After Suitable Boy, India in frenzy over A Suitable Girl

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:46:06 GMT

It was a novel that told the story of India in a time of change and transition, as a newly independent country fought to find its way. It was a mammoth tale, told in almost 600,000 words. Detailing an anxious mother's search for a match for her daughter, it was called A Suitable Boy.

Concern grows for UK staff in Iran

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:30:45 GMT

A threat by Iran to put British Embassy staff on trial over alleged involvement in anti-government protests further heightened diplomatic tensions today.

British embassy staff 'face Iran trial'

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:07:01 GMT

Downing Street said today it was "concerned" about reports that British embassy staff in Tehran will face trial.

Syria's Assad offers informal invitation to Obama

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:01:51 GMT

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued an informal invitation to President Barack Obama to visit Damascus for talks, in a sign that relations between the two countries may gradually be thawing.

US cautious on Einstein cyber security programme

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:19:55 GMT

The Obama administration is moving cautiously on a new pilot programme that would both detect and stop cyber attacks against government computers, while trying to ensure citizen privacy protections.

US cautious on Einstein cyber security program

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:19:55 GMT

The Obama administration is moving cautiously on a new pilot program that would both detect and stop cyber attacks against government computers, while trying to ensure citizen privacy protections.

Andrew Buncombe: Munching on tarantulas

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:16:57 GMT

One of the great things about Asia is the food - the variety, the freshness and the bewildering styles of cooking. Nowhere is this more true than in south-east Asia, a region of the world where I'm never happier than when sitting down over a simple bowl of noodles. I am having a lot of fun, therefore, reading the highly entertaining story of Ian Walker journey upstream along the mighty Mekong river.

Grace Boyle: Death by fax?

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:13:36 GMT

India is a passionate country, but two thousand men reduced to requesting death in a fax to the president cannot just be notched down to dramatics. Impoverished by their thirsty, barren lands, this is the path of action that has been chosen by desperate farmers - and not for the first time.

Rabbit-obsessed woman sent back to jail

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:45:55 GMT

An Oregon woman obsessed with bunnies has been ordered back behind bars after police found her in a hotel room with more than a dozen rabbits.

Teenagers who mishear sex noises attack woman's lover

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:22:53 GMT

US police say a teenage girl overheard her mother's screams during sex and thought she was being assaulted, so she rounded up some friends to attack the woman's lover.

'11 dead' in suspected US missile strike

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:32:35 GMT

Pakistani intelligence officials say 11 people were killed in a suspected US missile strike in northwest Pakistan.