US to open direct Taliban talks

The US is to open direct peace talks with the Taliban after more than 10 years of war in Afghanistan, senior White House officials announce.

G8 backs urgent Syria peace talks

G8 leaders back calls for Syrian peace talks to be held in Geneva "as soon as possible", without mentioning the fate of President Bashar al-Assad.

Brazil president 'proud' of protests

Dilma Rousseff says she is proud so many people are fighting for a better country, in her first public comments since mass protests on Monday.

Mali signs peace deal with Tuareg

Mali's government signs a peace deal with Tuareg rebels to end conflict in the north in the run-up to elections next month.

Pakistan funeral bomb kills 28

At least 27 people, including a lawmaker linked to Imran Khan's PTI, are killed in a suicide bombing at a funeral in north-west Pakistan, officials say.

Italy school bomber gets life term

An Italian court sentences to life in prison a man who carried out a school bomb attack in 2012, which killed a teenage girl and injured nine others.

Jolie double in US phone hack claim

A former stunt double for Angelina Jolie sues News Corp in the US, accusing the company of hacking into her phone to gain information about the star.

Montreal mayor resigns after arrest

Montreal's Mayor Michael Applebaum resigns, a day after his arrest on 14 fraud charges, the latest scandal to hit Canadian local politics.

Swiss bill on bank secrecy rebuffed

The lower house of Switzerland's parliament refuses to discuss a bill that would allow Swiss banks to pass client information to the US tax authorities.

Chrysler agrees to recall 2.7m Jeeps

Chrysler agrees to recall 2.7 million Jeeps that could be at risk of fuel tank fires, after initially refusing a US government request to do so.

'Standing man' leads Turkish protest

A Turkish protester dubbed the "standing man" leads a vigil on Istanbul's Taksim Square days after the authorities evicted demonstrators.

Vietnamese crew held in Philippines

Eighteen Vietnamese crew members are detained after their cargo ship allegedly hit a coral reef in the central Philippines, the coastguard says.

Huawei unveils 'slimmest' smartphone

Huawei unveils the world's slimmest smartphone saying the handset will work "miracles" for its brand.

Pictures: Wacky dog grooming designs

Sharks, tigers and robots on display at US dog grooming contest

Father urges NSA leaker: 'Come home'

The father of ex-CIA document leaker Edward Snowden, who is in hiding in Hong Kong, urges his son not to commit "treason" and to face justice.

Deloitte gets one-year New York ban

Deloitte is suspended for one year from doing consulting work in New York after regulators criticised its work at Standard Chartered on anti-money laundering issues.

Arrest in US football dribbler death

An Oregon motorist suspected of fatally running down a US man on a quest to dribble a football from Seattle to Brazil for charity is arrested.

Ecuador to continue Assange asylum

Ecuador's foreign minister says its embassy in London will continue to provide political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

General condemns Uganda 'monarchy'

Ugandan General David Sejusa accuses President Yoweri Museveni of trying to cling to power through a "political monarchy", in his first broadcast interview since fleeing to the UK.

Ethiopia FA admits ineligible player

The president of the Ethiopia FA, Sahilu Gebremariam, admits his side fielded an ineligible player in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

China in carbon trading experiment

China, the world's biggest carbon emitter, is to launch its first carbon trading scheme as a pilot project in Shenzhen.

Northern India flood toll rises

The death toll from flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rain in northern India rises to 70, media reports say.

G8 leaders agree deal on tax evasion

Leaders of the G8 major economies agree plan to clamp down on money launderers, illegal tax evaders and corporate tax avoiders.

Russian Duma backs gay adoption ban

MPs in Moscow back a bill banning adoption of Russian orphans by foreign gay couples and by foreign singles from countries allowing gay marriage.

Deadly bomb attacks hit Baghdad

At least 31 people are killed in a double suicide bomb attack at a Shia mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Auditors criticise EU aid for Egypt

European auditors say much of the 1bn euros of EU aid for Egypt in the past seven years has had little or no impact.

Minister hails 'web porn' progress

Ministers say agreements reached with internet firms will lead to a "fundamental change" in how images of child abuse are dealt with online.

Dawn Approach wins at Royal Ascot

Dawn Approach beats Toronado in a photo finish to win the St James's Palace Stakes on the opening day at Royal Ascot.

EU car sales hit 20-year low for May

New car sales across Europe fell to their lowest level in two decades in May as the deepening recession hurt demand.

Protests spread throughout Brazil

As many as 200,000 people march through Brazil's biggest cities, as protests over public transport costs and the expense of the World Cup spread.