Egypt's PM has appealed for calm after 24 people were killed as clashes between Coptic Christians and security forces escalated into full-scale riots.

A Chinese man faces a charge in Russia of attempted spying for allegedly trying to gain details of a missile system through bribery.

China and Russia have vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning Syria over its crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is due to hold key talks in India.

A Filipino-American woman seized more than two months ago in the southern Philippines has been released, officials on Basilan island say.

The US-born radical Islamist cleric and suspected al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki has been killed in Yemen, the country's defence ministry has said.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has said he will not stand down as promised if his opponents are allowed to stand in elections to succeed him.

Burma's president has suspended construction of a controversial, Chinese-backed hydroelectric dam.

European countries proposing a new UN resolution over Syria have dropped demands for immediate sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Chilean student leaders have agreed to hold talks with the government on education reform after nearly five months of strikes and demonstrations.

Syrian troops firing machine-guns and backed by tanks have stormed the restive central town of Rastan, activists say.The tanks and other armoured vehicles entered Rastan early on Tuesday after besieging it for two days, they said.

Australia has lifted all restrictions on the roles that women can carry out in its armed forces.Suitably-qualified female soldiers will be able to serve in the special forces and front-line combat units.

A powerful typhoon has struck the Philippines, triggering floods and cutting power in the capital Manila and throughout the main island, Luzon.

Diplomatic efforts over a Palestinian bid for UN membership are intensifying New York, while thousands have rallied in the West Bank to back the move.

The Iranian authorities have arrested a group of film-makers and accused them of working for the BBC Persian service, which is banned in the country.

Police vehicles, including three riot vans, have started to gather close to the entrance to Dale Farm travellers' site in Essex, in preparation for the planned eviction by bailiffs.

At least 20 people have been killed by security forces in Yemen, doctors say, continuing a bloody crackdown on protesters that started on Sunday.

Columns of anti-Gaddafi forces have renewed assaults on Sirte and Bani Walid, two of the final strongholds of the ousted Libyan leader.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has cancelled a trip to next week's UN General Assembly in New York because of floods in Sindh province.

Anti-Gaddafi forces have renewed an assault on the town of Bani Walid, one of the last remaining strongholds of the ousted Libyan leader.