A top Obama adviser criticises Israel over settlement homes in East Jerusalem, thwarting Israeli hopes of ending the row.

Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki's bloc strengthens its lead over its main rivals with partial election results now in from all 18 provinces.

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters march in Bangkok to press the government to call new elections.

Bomb attacks on the Afghan city of Kandahar were a warning to US and Nato forces not to target the region, the Taliban say.

Three people connected to the US consulate in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez have been killed, the White House says.

Two French hostages seized in the Central African Republic in November have been freed, the French foreign minister says.

A leading member of the Hamas militant group, Mahar Uda, is arrested in the West Bank, the Israeli army says.

An avalanche hits an unauthorised snowmobile rally in Canada, killing at least two people and triggering a search.

France holds regional elections that are expected to reflect disenchantment with President Sarkozy's government.

Panic is sparked in Georgia after a bogus TV news report said Russian tanks had invaded and the president was dead.

Fernando Alonso wins the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix for Ferrari after early leader Sebastian Vettel suffers exhaust problems.

Wayne Rooney scores twice and Dimitar Berbatov adds a third as Manchester United beat Fulham to move two points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The rules children must obey in Berlin, Paris, Rome and NY

Ridding Falklands of its landmines, 30 years after war

Secrets of Italian artist Caravaggio in the frame

Bombed out and banned: Gaza's male hairdressers

New US movement tells politicians to smell the coffee

South Asian women allege abuse by British in-laws

Winnie Mandela, former wife of Nelson Mandela, denies giving an interview accusing him of letting down black South Africans.

Mogadishu's mayor tells residents to leave parts of the Somali capital, as fierce fighting against insurgents continues.

Thirteen people die, four of whom are beheaded, in drug-related violence at the Mexican beach resort of Acapulco.

Colombians are set to vote in legislative elections that may indicate how the May presidential election will shape up.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao rejects criticism that Beijing keeps the yuan undervalued in order to boost exports.

Kazakhstan's president calls for the prosecution of anyone suspected of causing a recent flooding in which dozens died.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis attacks the planned strike by British Airways cabin crew staff, calling it "totally unjustified".

A US woman held in Ireland over an alleged plot to kill a Swedish cartoonist is freed, as three others are still questioned.

A 3,000-year-old wooden sarcophagus stolen from Egypt more than 125 years ago is returned from the US.

Israel charges two of soldiers over the use of a Palestinian boy as a human shield during its offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

A suicide bomber in a rickshaw kills at least 10 people in Pakistan, a day after twin blasts leave dozens dead in Lahore.

England close day three of the first Test against Bangladesh on 131-5, a lead of 434, after choosing not to enforce the follow-on.

As Barack Obama delivers his angriest performance since he was elected, Mark Mardell asks if America is becoming more divided.

Huge tented communities have been set up in Haiti and survivors of the earthquake and tremors are making the most of their new life under canvas, which, as the BBC's Christine Finn finds, could be for a long time to come.

The Pope has said celibacy among priests is a sign of "full devotion" to the Catholic Church. Do you agree?