External Feeds

Afghans reject Taliban talks moves

20/06/2013 09:23

Afghan officials tell the BBC the removal of the flag and nameplate from the Taliban's Qatar office does not go far enough.

U-turn fails to end Brazil protests

20/06/2013 05:07

Brazilian authorities promise to reverse public transport fare rises that sparked unrest, but nationwide protests continue unabated.

Singapore smog 'could last for weeks'

20/06/2013 10:59

Singapore's prime minister warns that the haze engulfing the city could last for weeks, as air pollution in the city-state soared to record levels.

Kenyatta trial moved to November

20/06/2013 11:06

The International Criminal Court (ICC) pushes back the trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to 12 November.

Syria's ancient sites 'in danger'

20/06/2013 09:56

Six ancient sites in Syria are added to a UN list of endangered World Heritage sites because of the threat from the conflict there.

Anger at US human trafficking report

20/06/2013 10:36

Russia and China react angrily after the US downgrades them to its lowest category in a report on efforts to fight human trafficking.

Sopranos actor James Gandolfini dies

20/06/2013 05:54

James Gandolfini, the US actor best known for his role as a therapy-seeking mob boss in The Sopranos, dies at the age of 51.

Paid-for online news 'makes gains'

19/06/2013 23:13

More people are becoming willing to buy online news, but social media may be eroding brand recognition, a study by Reuters suggests.

Race to save India flood victims

20/06/2013 09:53

India's army steps up efforts to reach the worst-affected areas in the flood-hit Indian state of Uttarakhand, where nearly 150 people have died.

Assange asylum bid for NSA leaker

20/06/2013 09:25

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is trying to broker a deal that would see US surveillance programme leaker Edward Snowden granted asylum in Iceland.

Silver 'boost to antibiotic success'

20/06/2013 06:21

Adding silver to antibiotics boosts their ability to fight infection, research suggests.

Olympic champion held in custody row

20/06/2013 09:50

A Moroccan Olympic champion, Khalid Skah, who claims his children were abducted by Norwegian agents, is arrested in France.

China gives first lecture from space

20/06/2013 04:23

China's second female astronaut, Wang Yaping, delivers the country's first-ever video lecture from the Tiangong-1 space laboratory.

Early Mars atmosphere 'oxygen-rich'

19/06/2013 18:12

Mars' atmosphere could have been rich in oxygen four billion years ago - well before Earth's air became augmented with the gas.

FBI uses surveillance drones in US

19/06/2013 20:55

The FBI has used drones for surveillance in limited cases over US soil and is developing a drone use policy, the FBI director tells the US Senate.

Serena sorry for quotes on US rape

19/06/2013 21:38

World tennis number one Serena Williams apologises after reportedly appearing to criticise the victim in a high-profile US rape case.

Mexico arrests top 10 US fugitive

19/06/2013 14:52

A US fugitive on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list for the alleged sexual exploitation of children is arrested at a resort in Mexico.

Brazil 2-0 Mexico

19/06/2013 21:46

A Neymar-inspired Brazil defeat Mexico to secure the hosts' place in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup.

UN condemns 'despicable' Somali raid

20/06/2013 09:28

UN head Ban Ki-moon expresses outrage over a "despicable" attack by Islamists on a UN office in Somalia which killed at least 15 people.

Nigerian army bans satellite phones

20/06/2013 10:35

Satellite phones are banned in a northern Nigerian state to hinder communication by Islamist militants following recent attacks.

Hanged body shock for NZ burglar

20/06/2013 11:00

A terrified burglar hands himself to police in New Zealand after breaking into a house and stumbling across a body hanging in the dark.

Eleven jailed in China's Xinjiang

20/06/2013 08:50

China jails 11 people for crimes of ethnic and religious hatred in the far western region of Xinjiang, state media say.

Obama calls for nuclear arsenal cuts

19/06/2013 20:26

Speaking at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, President Barack Obama calls for reductions to be made in US and Russian nuclear stockpiles.

Eurotunnel accused of overcharging

20/06/2013 04:02

Brussels says passengers going through the Channel Tunnel are paying over the odds, because Eurotunnel is overcharging the train companies for using the track.

Protests flare over Egypt governor

19/06/2013 17:53

Egypt's tourism minister quits and protests erupt as a man with links to Islamists behind the deadly 1997 attack in Luxor is named as city governor.

Suicide bomber strikes Yemeni market

19/06/2013 11:23

A suicide bomber on a motorbike kills two people in Yemen's northern town of Saada, which is under the control of Houthi Shia rebels.

Nine hurt in crash near school

20/06/2013 11:10

Nine people are taken to hospital after a car hits parents and children as they used a school pelican crossing in a south Wales village.

Schools 'let down invisible poor'

20/06/2013 10:18

The problem of pupil underachievement has shifted from inner cities to schools in suburbs, coastal towns and rural areas, education watchdog Ofsted says.

Fed 'could end bond-buying in 2014'

20/06/2013 02:21

The Federal Reserve maintains its $85bn-a-month (£54bn) asset purchase programme, but says it could begin scaling back later this year and ending it completely in 2014.

China factory activity slows further

20/06/2013 04:00

China's manufacturing activity weakens further in June, falling to a nine-month low as demand falls, according to a preliminary survey by HSBC.

Eurozone output falls at slower rate

20/06/2013 09:11

The decline in the eurozone's manufacturing and services sectors eased in June as output fell by the slowest rate for 15 months, a survey indicates.

Corbisiero named in Lions Test side

20/06/2013 02:12

Prop Alex Corbisiero is the surprise inclusion in a Lions team featuring eight Welshmen for the first Test against Australia.

Newcastle situation sickens Shearer

20/06/2013 07:48

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has been undermined by Joe Kinnear's appointment as director of football, says Alan Shearer.

FIA: Mercedes did not get permission

20/06/2013 11:20

Mercedes did not get permission to take part in the test in which they are accused of breaking F1's rules, says the FIA.

Director signs up for 50 Shades film

20/06/2013 09:10

Artist and film-maker Sam Taylor-Johnson, previously known as Sam Taylor-Wood, will direct the film version of the erotic novel 50 Shades of Grey.

Miss Saigon returns to West End

20/06/2013 00:33

Hit musical Miss Saigon returns to London's West End in 2014, its 25th anniversary year.

Frank Langella to play King Lear

20/06/2013 10:27

The Tony award-winning actor Frank Langella is to play King Lear for the Chichester Festival Theatre in the autumn, it has been announced.

VIDEO: Lourdes closed by flash floods

20/06/2013 06:04

Residents of the French town of Lourdes are clearing up after severe flash floods which forced the closure of its holy shrine.

VIDEO: Astronaut gives lecture from space

20/06/2013 04:21

China has held its first classroom lecture from its orbiting space station as part of efforts to appeal to young people.

VIDEO: Kerry calls Karzai to defuse tension

20/06/2013 00:48

US Secretary of State John Kerry has spoken by phone to Afghan President Hamid Karzai to try to defuse tensions, an Afghan spokesman has told the BBC.

AUDIO: Picasso ceramic sold for record price

20/06/2013 10:16

A vase by Picasso has sold at auction in London for almost £1m to an anonymous bidder - a world record price for a ceramic piece by the artist. But why are Picasso's ceramics cheaper than his paintings?

VIDEO: Asylum seekers await NL ruling

20/06/2013 08:14

Hundreds of failed asylum seekers in the Netherlands are to find out on Thursday if they can remain in an abandoned office building, which they have occupied, while their cases are reviewed.

VIDEO: Project Zero: Half plane, half helicopter

20/06/2013 09:40

On of the most striking items on display at the Paris Air Show is Agusta Westland's Project Zero - a flying machine that can be described as half helicopter, half aeroplane.

VIDEO: Obama visits Brandenburg Gate

19/06/2013 18:24

US President Barack Obama has addressed thousands of Germans in Berlin, almost 50 years to the day since President John Kennedy delivered his famous ""Ich bin ein Berliner" speech.

VIDEO: Brazils new 'vertical gardening' movement

20/06/2013 00:22

A new movement is encouraging Brazilians in Sao Paulo to plant gardens up the walls of buildings as a solution to the city's lack of affordable green space.