World news headlines from BBC News

Lebanon urged to resist violence - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:39:20 +0000

Syria's president and the Saudi king call on Lebanon's rival factions to avoid turning to violence amid mounting political tensions in the country.

Pakistan flooding death toll soars - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:18:21 +0000

Floods caused by heavy monsoon rain kill at least 385 people in Pakistan and Afghanistan, washing away whole villages, roads and bridges.

Farc call to new Colombia leader - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:05:26 +0000

Colombia's Farc rebel group issues a call for dialogue with the new government after Juan Manuel Santos's election as president.

Greece mobilises military amid strike - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:39:58 +0000

Greece will use military vehicles to restore fuel supplies cut by a lorry drivers' strike, the government says.

Israel launches Gaza air strikes - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:36:41 +0000

Israel launches air strikes into the Gaza Strip, reports say, hours after a Palestinian rocket hit the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon.

Five Taliban off UN sanction list - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:33:56 +0000

Five Taliban are removed from a sanctions list by the UN Security Council, a move sought by Kabul to ease rapprochement with insurgents.

US has deadliest Afghan war month - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:20:31 +0000

US forces suffered the deadliest month of their nine-year Afghan campaign, with 66 service members killed in July.

French mother 'relieved by truth' - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:07:33 +0000

A French mother who admitted killing eight of her newborn babies is relieved that her secret is finally out in the open, her lawyer says.

BP boss scaling back oil effort - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:07:23 +0000

The incoming BP chief executive has said it is time to scale back some parts of the oil spill clean-up in the Gulf of Mexico.

Deadly forest fires ravage Russia - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:26:09 +0000

Forest fires kill at least 23 people in central Russia, while a forecast of heavy rain brings relief to Moscow.

Fossil sparks whale of a row for Egypt customs - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:53:41 +0000

The fossil of a whale is at the centre of a bizarre customs wrangle at Cairo airport, the BBC's Jon Leyne reports.

Malaysia TV's 'imam idol' crowned - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:59:23 +0000

A 26-year-old religious scholar wins Malaysian TV talent search for the best young imam, or Muslim leader.

US economic growth slows to 2.4% - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:48:09 +0000

US economic growth slowed between April and June, with GDP growing by an annualised rate of 2.4%, the US Commerce Department says.

'Video leaker' moved to US base - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:53:57 +0000

A US soldier accused of leaking video of a deadly 2007 Iraq helicopter attack to the Wikileaks website is transferred to a Virginia base pending trial.

Argentine gay weddings go ahead - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:55:40 +0000

A gay couple become the first to marry in Argentina under a new law allowing same-sex unions.

Military kills Mexico drug lord - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:53:53 +0000

The Mexican government says security forces have killed leading drug trafficker Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel.

Three charged with Uganda bombing - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:13:11 +0000

Three Kenyans are charged with the murders of 76 people killed when bombs exploded as they watched the World Cup on TV in Kampala, Uganda.

Four fined over SA 'racist video' - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:30:26 +0000

Four white South Africans are fined $2,700 (£1,700) each after making a video humiliating black university workers.

Sale of EDF's UK networks agreed - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:50:38 +0000

A consortium headed by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing agrees to buy the UK networks of French power group EDF for £5.8bn ($9.1bn).

China river hunt for toxic drums - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:30:04 +0000

Search teams in north-east China are still searching for thousands of barrels of toxic chemicals washed into a major river by flooding.

Sarkozy threat on police attacks - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:28:41 +0000

President Nicolas Sarkozy says he would like to strip French nationality from anyone of foreign origin who threatened the life of a police officer.

Berlusconi plays down party split - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:58:58 +0000

Italy's PM Silvio Berlusconi insists that his ruling right-wing coalition will survive despite a split with his party's co-founder Gianfranco Fini.

Saudi warned on expelling Somalis - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:50:34 +0000

The UN refugee agency urges Saudi Arabia to stop deporting Somalis, saying 2,000 have recently been sent to Mogadishu.

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.

Hi-tech Indian water plant opens - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:26:58 +0000

A desalination plant which begins operating in Madras on Saturday will provide some of the cheapest drinking water in India, backers say.

Sri Lanka TV station firebombed - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:09:05 +0000

A gang armed with firebombs attacks a private TV and radio station in Colombo, linked to former opposition presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka.

Coroner raises rail safety fears - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:26:39 +0000

A coroner raises ongoing safety fears as an inquest jury blames a points failure for the Potters Bar train crash.

Venables' identity must be secret - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:58:03 +0000

The new identity of Jon Venables must be kept secret because there is "compelling evidence" of a threat to his safety, a judge says.

Northwest agrees to pay $38m fine - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:45:44 +0000

Northwest Airlines will plead guilty and pay a $38m fine for fixing air-cargo prices, the US justice department says.

Airbus firm EADS lifts output aim - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:31:18 +0000

Airbus parent firm EADS says it is confident about future orders, despite reporting a fall in second-quarter earnings.

Disney sells Miramax film studios - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:16:58 +0000

Walt Disney announces the sale of its Miramax film division for about $660m to a group of private equity investors.

Anderson puts England in command - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:52:22 +0000

Birthday boy James Anderson produces a superb bowling display to put England on top in the first Test against Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

Turner leads GB Euro medal haul - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:14:21 +0000

Andy Turner leads Great Britain's medal haul on the fourth day of the European Championships as he takes gold in the 110m hurdles.

Vettel heads Alonso in practice - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:37:34 +0000

Red Bull appear to be in control as McLaren struggle during second practice for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.

DeGeneres leaving American Idol - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:13:38 +0000

Comedienne and chat show host Ellen DeGeneres is leaving American Idol after one season on the judging panel.

Awards double for Valentine band - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:43:08 +0000

Welsh rock band Bullet For My Valentine scoop two prizes at this year's Kerrang! Awards, including best British group for the third year running.

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.

Deadly forest fires ravage Russia - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:49:57 +0000

Wild fires have continued to rage in central and western Russia, with more than 20 people now reported to have died.

Rescues as Pakistan flood toll soars - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:59:58 +0000

More than 400 people have been killed and nearly 400,000 displaced in floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains in northern Pakistan.

UK soldiers push to clear Taliban - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:59:25 +0000

Hundreds of British soldiers have launched an operation against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan

Grim task of China oil clean-up - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:49:32 +0000

China is struggling with an arduous clean up after the country's worst oil spill, with grim conditions for those involved.

'I survived deadly bear attack' - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:49:52 +0000

A Canadian woman has said she played dead in order to escape from a bear during an attack in Montana that left one man dead.

Sri Lanka TV station firebombed - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:54:10 +0000

A gang armed with firebombs attacks a private TV and radio station in Colombo, linked to former opposition presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka.

BP boss scaling back oil effort - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:46:21 +0000

Incoming BP chief executive Bob Dudley has said it is time to scale back some parts of the oil spill clean-up in the Gulf of Mexico.

Novel take on French home shortage - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:10:15 +0000

Young French people having difficulty finding affordable housing are being given the chance to help older members of society and put a roof over their own heads.

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.

Ultimate rejection - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:34:58 +0000

What could drive a mother to kill a child in first few minutes of life?

China's oil spill - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:17:18 +0000

Workers struggle to clear crude with their bare hands

Sex tourism boom - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:19:15 +0000

Brazil's uphill struggle curtailing lucrative trade in underage sex

Cry freedom - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:25:47 +0000

Ukrainians see increasing signs of media harassment

On the run - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:34:30 +0000

Why northern Cyprus is no longer a haven for fugitives

Picking up Penguins - Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:42:49 +0000

British publisher marks 75 years in books

Speaking part - Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:18:00 +0000

Delhi polishes up English for Commonwealth Games

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

Russia's returning spies will find it difficult to adjust