The US and Poland sign a deal to locate part of a controversial US missile defence shield on Polish territory, angering Russia.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy travels to Afghanistan to support his troops, a day after a deadly attack by Taleban fighters.

Two bombs hit a hotel and barracks east of Algeria's capital, killing 11 and injuring 31, one day after another lethal bombing.

Russia rejects a draft UN Security Council resolution on Georgia, saying it contradicted last week's truce terms.

One of Pakistan's most prominent pro-democracy leaders accuses a senior UK diplomat of undermining his country's rule of law.

The civil trial opens of a former US marine accused of killing unarmed Iraqi detainees in Falluja, the first case of its kind.

Nearly 30,000 people have been displaced from their homes after flooding in Nepal.

A humpback whale calf separated from its mother and trying to suckle from boats off Sydney, Australia, is weakening, observers say.

Kenya's prime minister welcomes ex anti-graft chief John Githongo home after three years in exile.

The claimed recent discovery of Bigfoot in the US state of Georgia has turned out to be a gorilla suit in a block of ice.

Men's and women's singles table tennis continues in Beijing while Russia's Larisa Ilchenko overtakes two British swimmers to take gold in a thrilling 10km marathon on day 12 of the Games.

Olympic heptathlon silver medallist Liudmyla Blonska of Ukraine tests positive for a banned substance, BBC Sport understands.

How conflict reshaped Georgia's restive regions

Musharraf - was he a national hero or a failure?

Palestinian concern as summer drought hits West Bank

Does GB's success have an Australian flavour?

Killing of French troops shows more brazen Taleban

Sierra Leone's education minister finds non-existent teachers invented to embezzle money.

Somali pirates have hijacked a tanker with more than 20 crew, says a maritime watchdog.

Barack Obama's senior economic adviser accuses John McCain of proposing huge tax cuts for rich people and large firms.

Tropical storm Fay crosses to the east coast of Florida where it again threatens to develop into a hurricane.

Hua Guofeng, who briefly succeeded Mao Zedong in 1976, has died in Beijing aged 87, report state media.

Former pop star Gary Glitter's return to the UK is delayed as he said he was having a heart attack at Bangkok airport.

French birds are moving northwards in response to climate change, but not fast enough, a study suggests.

An alleged high-ranking mafia boss, believed to be a key player in drugs trafficking, is extradited to Italy from Canada.

The governor of Diyala province says his secretary was killed in an attack by a unit of the security forces on his office in Baquba.

At least 13 people are hurt in a fire at the upper house of the Egyptian parliament in Cairo, officials say.

The US says it is ready to help Pakistan look after huge numbers of people displaced in fighting close to the Afghan border.

The BBC's Bridget Kendall explains why conflict in Ossetia marks a chill in the post-Cold War thaw.

Jonny Hogg witnesses an ancient ritual in Madagascar as loved ones are mourned in a bone turning ceremony.

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