Ethiopia PM admits Somalia action
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi gives a televised address in which he admits sending troops into Somalia.

Ahmadinejad rejects sanctions
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insists the West will have to learn to live with a nuclear Iran.

Dead spy's Italy contact arrested
Police arrest an Italian man who met ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko the day he was poisoned.

Iraqi police deaths 'hit 12,000'
Some 12,000 Iraq police officers have died in the line of duty since the US-led invasion in 2003, a minister says.

Turkmenistan mourns late leader
The funeral of Turkmenistan's late president, Saparmurat Niyazov, gets under way in the capital Ashgabat.

Egyptian woman dies of bird flu
An Egyptian woman dies of bird flu, just hours after testing positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.

Hundreds attend Italian's funeral
Hundreds of people attended a civil funeral for an Italian man whose fight to die sparked a euthanasia debate.

Raul Castro urges transport plan
Cuba's acting President Raul Castro criticises the country's transport system saying it is on the point of collapse.

Presley's songwriter Linde dies
Songwriter Dennis Linde, who wrote one of Elvis Presley's last major hits, Burning Love, dies aged 63.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Cricket: Ashes Test preview
England hope to stave off an Ashes whitewash when the fourth Test starts in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Football: Pardew joins Charlton
Charlton head coach Les Reed leaves the club by mutual consent to be replaced by Alan Pardew.

Nigeria to replace vice-president
Nigeria's government announces that President Obasanjo is to replace Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Darfur force on agenda
Sudanese officials are to meet next week to discuss how to incorporate UN troops into the current AU force in Darfur.

Gates briefs Bush on Iraq visit
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates briefs George Bush about Iraq, as the president ponders a policy shift.

Jackson sues former accountants
Michael Jackson is suing his former accountants, claiming they made unauthorised business deals.

Japan emperor urges war teaching
Emperor Akihito calls for young people to honour Japan's war dead and learn about the ravages of conflict.

Burma rebel leader dies aged 79
A veteran Burmese rebel leader, Bo Mya of the Karen National Union, dies after a long illness aged 79.

Azeris warn Russia on gas prices
Azerbaijan threatens to stop importing gas from Russia after Gazprom says it will increase the price.

EU fish quota deal hammered out
Cod fishing will be cut further as European Union ministers reach a deal to help protect depleted stocks.

Israel releases Palestinian cash
Israeli leader Ehud Olmert agrees to release $100m in frozen Palestinian funds, at talks with Mahmoud Abbas.

New clashes threaten Gaza truce
Fresh clashes flare in Gaza and the West Bank, putting new pressure on a truce between Hamas and Fatah.

Bangladesh parties in poll U-turn
Bangladesh's opposition alliance calls off a boycott of next month's general election, ending months of protests.

US raid kills 'Taleban commander'
A Taleban leader linked to al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden is reported killed by a US strike in Afghanistan.

Crime fight 'needs fresh ideas'
A Cabinet minister says new ways of tackling crime must be considered, after a report warns crime rates could rise.

Court halves Exxon spill damages
A US court cuts the level of damages Exxon Mobil must pay out for a 1989 oil spill off Alaska to $2.5bn.

Drink 'cuts brain injury damage'
Having low levels of alcohol in the blood may protect the brain from the effects of a head injury, research suggests.

Australia ponders climate future
The parched conditions afflicting much of Australia spark an emotional debate about the nature of climate change.

Christmas goes digital for many
Technology addicts reveal how they will be spending their digital Christmas surrounded by gadgets.

Slapstick comic Drake dies at 81
Comedian Charlie Drake dies in a nursing home aged 81 following a long illness caused by two strokes.

The Green Room
The best Christmas present? Serious political action to help those struggling to adapt to climate change.