Russia and Georgia open a new round of talks in Geneva aimed at restoring security after their conflict over South Ossetia.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon tells Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert he is deeply concerned over conditions in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

A military court in Nigeria sentences six soldiers to life in prison for selling thousands of guns to suspected oil militants.

A Texas grand jury indicts US Vice-President Dick Cheney for "organised criminal activity" related to the alleged abuse of inmates in private prisons.

Doctor Who creators were nervous of failure

A ceiling painting worth £15m is unveiled at the United Nations in Geneva amid controversy over how it was paid for.

Community groups in DR Congo make an impassioned plea for European troops to be sent to halt atrocities there.

President Hu Jintao of China agrees a range trade and loan dealsduring a landmark visit to Cuba.

A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake shakes the city of David, Panama, close to the border with Costa Rica.

The earliest turtles to live in water have been discovered on - and named after - the Scottish island of Skye.

Emerging technologies could boost supplies of essential plant-based drugs to combat malaria, says a report.

Dominique de Villepin is ordered to stand trial in connection with a political smear campaign against President Nicholas Sarkozy.

A missile fired by a suspected US drone kills at least five people in north-western Pakistan, security officials say.

A new centre-right government takes office in New Zealand after winning a general election on 8 November.

The Senate's longest-serving Republican Ted Stevens loses a knife-edge race against Democratic rival Mark Begich.

Serving and former police officers, teachers and soldiers are listed as BNP members in a leaked document.

Most GPs have difficulty differentiating chronic severe lung disease from asthma, a UK survey finds.

The bosses of the three biggest US carmakers, Ford, GM and Chrysler, ask Congress for a $25bn bail-out.

Brazil is to use a plane equipped with body-heat sensors to monitor uncontacted Indian tribes in the Amazon.

How navigation systems track and treat traffic jams

The Chinese government allows the US to station officials in three cities to help ensure the safety of Chinese food products for export.

Around 300,000 visas giving people the right to come to Britain may be wrongly approved every year, MPs are told.

US President-elect Barack Obama promises to "engage vigorously" on climate change, ahead of a major UN summit.

MySpace trial puts social networking sites on the spot

The UK's auction of emissions permits to power firms could raise between 1.5 and 2bn euros over the next 5 years.