UN cuts HIV estimates to 33m

Walkout fuels French strike woes

Hundreds of thousands of civil servants hold a one-day walkout as France's transport strike enters a second week.

UN cuts HIV estimates to 33m

The UN reduces its estimate of people infected with HIV from 40m to 33m, largely due to a fall in India.

Iraq reporter faces terror charge

The US military says it will press charges against an Iraqi photographer it accuses of working with insurgents.

First hearing for Cambodia court

A UN-backed genocide tribunal set up to try surviving Khmer Rouge leaders holds its first public hearing.

'Thousands released' in Pakistan

Gen Musharraf's government says it has freed some 3,400 people jailed under Pakistan's emergency.

Aid cuts for Europe's big farmers

The European Commission has proposed reforms which it hopes will streamline its enormous farm aid budget.

'One million' homeless in Somalia

One million people are now living rough in Somalia, following recent fighting, the UN refugee agency says.

Olmert optimistic over peace

The Israeli and Egyptian leaders hold rare talks to prepare for a regional conference due next week.

Bangladesh makes fresh aid plea

Bangladesh calls for more aid, amid reports that 30% of affected coastal villages are yet to receive supplies.

Cricket: Australia win series

Australia clinch a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka despite a superb 192 from Kumar Sangakkara in Hobart.

Tennis: Federer beats Sampras

World number one Roger Federer beats seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras in an exhibition match in Seoul.

Chaos mars Kenyan party primaries

Kenyan police use tear gas during clashes over the outcome of party primaries across the country.

Ghana mine 'eco-devastation'

The company that owns one of Ghana's biggest gold mines is accused of polluting rivers and intimidating locals

Chavez given Farc talk deadline

Colombia tells Venezuela's Hugo Chavez to reach a prisoner deal with left-wing rebels by the end of the year.

Net gridlock by 2010 study warns

A growing gap between internet capacity and demand could cause a drastic slowdown, a report says.

Policeman hijacks payroll plane

Police in Papua New Guinea kill a man after he hijacks a plane carrying payroll cash he was meant to guard.

Japan ups checks for foreigners

Japan begins fingerprinting all arriving foreigners, an anti-terror measure that some criticise as discrimination.

Ukraine's mine death toll rises

At least 88 people are now known to have died in the worst mining accident in Ukraine's history.

Fish dumping 'will ruin industry'

The fishing industry says it faces ruin because quota rules are seeing fish being thrown away dead.

Jordan holds parliamentary vote

Jordanians vote amid tight security in parliamentary elections seen as key to a transition to democracy.

Iran nuclear work 'not worth war'

Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi voices rare domestic criticism of Iran's controversial uranium enrichment programme.

Journalists arrested in Pakistan

More than 100 journalists protesting against media restrictions are arrested in Pakistan, eyewitnesses say.

Father-daughter marriage row

India police rescue a man who married and impregnated his daughter from angry villagers.

Discs with 15m bank details lost

Confidential details of 15m child benefit recipients are on computer discs lost by HM Revenue and Customs.

European shares brush off US woes

Europe's main share indexes rise as investors snap up bargains following Monday's share price falls.

Migraine brains 'are different'

Scientists discover differences in the sensory areas of the brains of people who develop migraine headaches.

Popping bubbles to treat cancer

University of Oxford scientists are trying to harness the energy released when bubbles burst to kill off cancer cells.

Campaigners hit by decryption law

Animal rights activists are the first to be hit by a law that forces them to hand over decryption keys to police.

British shows scoop Emmy awards

British TV shows win seven out of their eight nominations at the International Emmy Awards in New York.

Iraqi bloggers

For an inside view of life in Iraq, we cherry-pick recent postings from Iraqi bloggers - those who left - and some who were trying to leave.