President Obama pays tribute to US folk singer Seeger

US President Obama has paid tribute to the American folk singer and activist Pete Seeger, who has died following a short illness at the age of 94.

Mladic refuses to testify for Karadzic at ICTY trial

Ex-Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic has refused to testify after former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic called him as a defence witness at his war crimes trial at The Hague.

Ukraine's PM Azarov and government resign

Protesters in Kiev say they are in no hurry to leave, despite the protest laws being annulled, as Duncan Crawford reports

Ukraine unrest: Protesters storm regional offices

Anti-government demonstrators in Ukraine are expanding their protests after talks between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych stalled.

France Hollande: Valerie Trierweiler to visit India

Valerie Trierweiler, officially France's first lady, is to visit India as uncertainty continues over her ties with President Francois Hollande.

Syria foes 'to meet face-to-face' at Geneva II talks

Syria's opposition and government will meet "in the same room" in Geneva on Saturday after the first day of a peace conference ended with no direct talks.

Egypt militants step up campaign with Cairo blasts

Militants have stepped up their campaign against security forces in Egypt with a series of explosions in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

Australia offers co-operation on asylum abuse probe

The Australian government has rejected reports its navy mistreated asylum-seekers, but offered to co-operate with an Indonesian investigation.

Ukraine protests: Opposition issues 'attack' ultimatum

Ukrainian opposition leaders have issued an ultimatum to President Viktor Yanukovych, after talks failed to resolve the political stalemate.

Syria Geneva II: UN to hold talks with rival groups

UN mediator for Syrian peace talks Lakhdar Brahimi is to hold separate talks with rival delegations to assess their willingness to meet together.

Russia hunts suspected female Sochi suicide bomber

Russian police in Sochi are hunting for a woman they fear may be planning to carry out a suicide bomb attack.

Thai 'red-shirt' leader shot as emergency rule begins

A leader of Thailand's pro-government "red-shirt" group has been shot, as the 60-day state of emergency came into effect in Bangkok and nearby provinces.

China activist lawyer Xu Zhiyong on trial

Xu Zhiyong, a prominent human rights lawyer who campaigned against corruption, has gone on trial in China.

Ukraine protests: Two people killed in Kiev clashes

At least two people have been killed in clashes between police and protesters in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

Syria Geneva II peace conference begins with bitter speeches

Syria's government and main political opposition have traded bitter accusations as a major peace conference begins in Switzerland.

S Sudan troops recapture key oil town Malakal

The South Sudanese army says it has recaptured the key town of Malakal from rebels, after days of heavy fighting.

Central African Republic MPs elect Catherine Samba-Panza

Bangui mayor Catherine Samba-Panza, 59, has been elected interim president of the Central African Republic, making her the first woman to hold the post.

Ukraine unrest: Second night of violence on Kiev streets

Clashes have continued for a second consecutive night in a square in central Kiev.

India's Shashi Tharoor wife 'overdosed on drugs'

The death of the wife of Indian minister Shashi Tharoor may have been caused by an overdose of drugs, doctors who carried out the autopsy say.

There is clear evidence that Syria has systematically tortured and executed about 11,000 detainees since the start of the uprising, a report by three former war crimes prosecutors says.

Urban fox's record-breaking country walk

A fox has been tracked more than 40 miles (70km) away from its home range, breaking the previous British record.

Hollande and Julie Gayet 'affair going for two years'

The French gossip magazine Closer has published claims President Francois Hollande has been having an affair with actress Julie Gayet for two years.

Obama to reveal curbs on NSA spy programmes

President Barack Obama is to announce changes to US electronic spy programmes after revelations made by ex-intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

Syria conflict: Opposition considers talks attendance

Syria's main political opposition, the Syrian National Coalition, is meeting in Istanbul to decide whether to go to next week's peace talks.

Chaudhry Aslam laid to rest in Karachi

KARACHI: Martyred ‘police hero’ Chaudhry Aslam has been laid to rest next to the grave of his mother in Gizri graveyard here Friday.

Sitara-e-Shujaat recommended for Aitzaz Hasan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has recommended that Aitzaz Hasan, the brave student from Hangu who foiled a suicide attack be awarded the Sitara-e-Shujaat. The prime minister’s recommendation has been forwarded to President Mamnoon Hussain.

Cambodia garment workers killed in clashes with police

Police have opened fire on striking Cambodian garment workers, killing three and injuring several more.

Hotel in Somali capital Mogadishu hit by car bombs

Two car bombs have exploded outside a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu, killing at least 10 people.

The fight for suburbs of Damascus

Lyse Doucet, chief international correspondent

As 2013 drew to a close, Syrian government forces were assaulting suburbs around the capital Damascus, trying to defeat rebel forces and destroy their strongholds in advance of talks set for 22 January.

Antarctic rescue of Akademik Shokalskiy ship under way

An operation is under way in Antarctica to rescue passengers from the ice-bound research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy.