Hezbollah promises Syria 'victory'

The leader of the Lebanese Shia militant Hezbollah movement promises his supporters victory in Syria, saying Sunni rebels pose a threat to Lebanon.

Pakistan bus fire kills 16 children

At least 16 children and a teacher are killed in a fire on their school bus in the eastern Pakistan of Gujrat, police say.

'Black widow' bombing in Russia

A suicide bomber has blown herself up close to an interior ministry building in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan, officials say.

'Mafia martyr' Puglisi beatified

More than 50,000 people attend the beatification in Sicily of Don Giuseppe Puglisi, a Roman Catholic priest murdered by the mafia in 1993.

Bridge collapses after US rail crash

Two goods trains collide in the US state of Missouri, bringing down a road bridge and leaving seven people injured.

French army in major Mali pullout

France begins a key stage of its military withdrawal from Mali, four months after sending troops to push Islamist rebels out of the north.

Swedish riots spread beyond capital

Cars and buildings are torched for a sixth night in Stockholm despite extra police being deployed, as rioting spreads to at least two other towns.

Africa marks 'great leap forward'

Ethiopia's prime minister opens a ceremony of Africa's 54 leaders celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity.

Deaths in Philippines militant clash

At least seven marines and five militants are killed as troops tackle Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines, the military says.

Arizona sheriff 'profiled' Hispanics

The office of Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, improperly targeted Hispanics in patrols for undocumented immigrants, a judge finds.

Ukraine stages first gay pride march

About 100 activists stage Ukraine's first gay pride march in the capital Kiev, describing the event as a "historic" day.

Mayor 'sorry' for US brothel remarks

Osaka's outspoken mayor apologises for saying US troops in Okinawa should visit legal brothels as a way of curbing sexual crimes there.

Apple 1 from 1976 sells for $650,000

An original Apple 1 computer from 1976 - one of the first built in Steve Jobs' garage - sells at auction for more than 500,000 euros ($650,000).

Lantern record sought in Philippines

Thousands of paper lanterns light up the night sky in the Philippines in an attempt to set a new world record.

Toronto's Ford denies 'crack video'

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has denied allegations from a major Canadian newspaper he was caught on camera smoking crack cocaine.

Barrick Gold fined for Chile project

Chilean authorities fine the world's largest gold mining company, Barrick Gold Corp, more than $16m for environmental offences at an Andean mine.

Ecuador president starts third term

Ecuador's President, Rafael Correa, is sworn into office for an unprecedented third term in the capital, Quito.

Guatemala extradites ex-leader to US

Former Guatemalan President Alfonso is extradited to the United States, where he faces charges for laundering more than $70m in public funds.

Nigeria Boko Haram camps 'destroyed'

The Nigerian army says it has destroyed a number of camps used by militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, in the north-east of the country.

'Tanzanian shot' in gas crackdown

A pregnant woman has been shot dead in Tanzania during a security operation after gas protests in Mtwara, a journalist in the southern town tells the BBC.

Afghan Taliban attack central Kabul

Afghan security forces battle Taliban insurgents for hours in central Kabul, following an explosion that shook the capital.

China in first Swiss free-trade deal

China and Switzerland sign a memorandum of understanding on a free-trade agreement, the first such deal for China with a major Western economy.

Murder sparks anti-Muslim backlash

There has been a huge increase in anti-Muslim incidents since the murder of a British soldier in Woolwich, an inter-faith charity says.

IMF chief Lagarde made key witness

A French court does not place IMF head Christine Lagarde under investigation over a payout made when she was finance minister, making her a key witness instead.

'Poor response' to Iraq abuse claims

The UK government's response to claims that British troops abused and unlawfully killed civilians in Iraq is inadequate, the High Court rules, but it stops short of ordering a public inquiry.

Thousands protest in Bahrain sit-in

Tens of thousands of Bahrainis participated in a sit-in on Friday in protest at a raid on a senior Shia cleric's home.

Police probe fatal tiger attack

The death of a zoo worker attacked by a tiger could have been due to "human or technical" factors, police say.

48 rescued as island boat hits rock

A total of 48 passengers, including children, are rescued from a boat after it hits a rock and starts taking in water off the Pembrokeshire coast.

Germany reports sluggish growth

Germany's economy barely grew in the first quarter of the year, figures show, as private consumption helped offset shrinking exports and investment.

News Corp to split in two on 28 June

News Corp announces it will officially split its publishing and entertainment businesses on 28 June, two years after the UK phone-hacking scandal involving the News of the World.