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BBC News - World

The latest stories from the World section of the BBC News web site.

• Bid for Middle East peace begins
  The US Secretary of State tells the Israeli and Palestinian leaders they have the "opportunity to end this conflict" as direct peace talks begin.
  
  
• Explosion on Gulf of Mexico rig
  An explosion rips through an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the blast in April that caused a huge oil spill.
  
  
• Pakistan trio hit by ICC charges
  The three Pakistan cricketers accused of corruption - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir - have been charged, and provisionally suspended, by the International Cricket Council.
  
  
• Strike 'kills Afghan civilians'
  Ten election campaign workers have been killed in an air strike by Nato-led forces in Afghanistan, Afghan officials say.
  
  
• US East Coast on hurricane alert
  Areas along the US East Coast declare states of emergency as Hurricane Earl churns towards the region, forecast to brush land on Thursday night.
  
  
• Tanker aground off north Canada
  A tanker carrying 9m litres of diesel fuel runs aground in the Northwest Passage, off the coast of northern Canada.
  
  
• German banker 'should be fired'
  The German central bank calls on the country's president to dismiss one of its board members over comments he made about immigration and Jews.
  
  
• Manila in hostage coffin 'mix-up'
  The Philippines vows to probe claims that coffins of three of Hong Kong's eight victims of last week's hijacking in Manila were wrongly labelled.
  
  
• Red Cross asks for more Pakistan funds
  ICRC increases its Pakistan floods appeal by $76m as it warns that only a fraction of humanitarian needs are being met.
  
  
• Man held over Russia club blaze
  Police in Spain arrest a Russian man wanted for questioning about a fire at a Russian nightclub that killed more than 150 people in 2009.
  
  
• Ecuador in migrant massacre row
  Honduras accuses Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa of risking the life of a Honduran migrant who survived last month's Mexico massacre.
  
  
• New York dims the lights to save birds from collision
  A growing number of New York sky-scrapers switch off their lights at night to help reduce the number of migratory birds hitting the buildings.
  
  
• More than 10,000 vehicles stuck in new China jam
  More than 10,000 vehicles are stuck in a 120km (75-mile) traffic jam on China's Beijing to Tibet motorway.
  
  
• Puzzles and crosswords 'may delay dementia'
  People who do puzzles and crosswords may stave off dementia longer but experience a more rapid decline once the disease sets in, a study suggests.
  
  
• Canadian to command space station
  The Canadian Space Agency announces astronaut Chris Hadfield will become the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station in 2013.
  
  
• Burger King is sold for $3.26bn
  Burger King is being sold to private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26bn (£2.1bn), it has been announced.
  
  
• Chile miners given first hot meal
  Chilean miners trapped underground receive their first hot meal in 26 days, as Nasa experts arrive at the mine site.
  
  
• Brazil arrests city's government
  Brazilian police arrest almost the entire city council in Dourados on suspicion of corruption, putting a judge in temporary control of the government.
  
  
• SA to resume Zimbabwe expulsions
  South Africa is to start expelling Zimbabweans again, from 31 December, the government announces.
  
  
• DR Congo 'genocide' file delayed
  The UN postpones the release of a draft report that accuses the Rwandan army of possible genocide in DR Congo till next month.
  
  
• Independent Wilkie backs Gillard
  One of four key independent lawmakers endorses Australian PM Julia Gillard, leaving her just two seats short of the majority needed to form the next government.
  
  
• Typhoon hits South Korean capital
  Three people die as Seoul is hit by its strongest typhoon in 15 years, while storms continue to cause heavy rain and landslides in China.
  
  
• EU critical of France over Roma
  The European Commission criticises France over its expulsions of Roma (Gypsies) and requests more information about the crackdown.
  
  
• Russia extends grain export ban
  Russia will consider lifting its grain export ban only after the next year's harvest has been reaped, Vladimir Putin says.
  
  
• Egypt spy chief poster campaign
  Posters promoting Egypt's intelligence chief appear on the streets of Cairo, amid growing speculation over who will succeed President Hosni Mubarak.
  
  
• Obama hails US operation in Iraq
  President Barack Obama hails the end of US combat operations in Iraq, saying the US has paid "a huge price" to "put Iraq's future in its people's hands".
  
  
• Pakistan mourns as Lahore toll up
  Three days of mourning begins in Pakistan after bomb attacks on a Shia Muslim procession in Lahore city kill 31 people.
  
  
• Afghan bank 'to avoid collapse'
  The head of Afghanistan's Central Bank tells the BBC he will not allow the country's biggest commercial bank to collapse.
  
  
• PM backs Hague over aide rumours
  David Cameron supports William Hague "100%" following speculation about the foreign secretary's private life, the PM's spokeswoman says.
  
  
• Man beat wife and girl to death
  A florist beat his wife and daughter to death with a rubber mallet before hanging himself amid fears he would lose his biggest customer, an inquest hears.
  
  
• Europe agrees finance watchdogs
  The European Union agrees to reform financial supervision, with new agencies to oversee banks, insurers and financial markets.
  
  
• Dell pulls out of battle for 3Par
  Dell withdraws its bid for 3Par after rival Hewlett-Packard raises its offer for the data storage company to $2.1bn.
  
  
• ECB ups eurozone growth forecasts
  The European Central Bank raises its forecast for eurozone growth for this year and next year, and keeps interest rates on hold.
  
  
• Live text - US Open day four
  Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic are among the evening's draw on day four at the US Open, where Roger Federer and Caroline Wozniacki reach the third round.
  
  
• Beckham eyes 11 September return
  Former England captain David Beckham hopes to play for the LA Galaxy against Columbus Crew on 11 September.
  
  
• Queiroz gets six-month suspension
  Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz is suspended for six months after it is ruled that he disrupted an anti-doping test ahead of the World Cup.
  
  
• Zeta Jones reveals cancer anger
  Catherine Zeta Jones reveals she is "furious" that doctors failed to detect husband Michael Douglas' throat cancer earlier.
  
  
• Bob Dylan art debuts in Denmark
  Some of musician Bob Dylan's artwork, never seen before by the public, is to be displayed at Denmark's National Gallery.
  
  
• Singer Sami urges Pakistan relief
  British singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf, billed as "Islam's biggest rock star", is donating profits from his latest single to help flood victims in Pakistan.
  
  
• Peru island makes gains from guano
  An island off Peru is making money from selling bird poo to use as organic fertiliser.
  
  
• Typhoon hits South Korean capital
  Three people die as Seoul is hit by its strongest typhoon in 15 years, while storms continue to cause heavy rain and landslides in China.
  
  
• Israeli novelist on Middle East conflict
  The Israeli novelist David Grossman on how the Middle East conflict tore his family apart.
  
  
• Female circumcision widespead in Egypt
  A doctor in Egypt is being taken to court for carrying out an illegal operation to circumcise young girls following the death of a 13-year-old.
  
  
• Handover marks 'new chapter' for Iraq
  US Vice-President Joe Biden has spoken at a ceremony marking the end of US combat operations in Iraq.
  
  
• Samsung unveils rival to Apple's iPad
  Samsung has become the latest challenger to enter the tablet computer battle, unveiling its Galaxy Tab at the IFA conference in Berlin.
  
  
• Cricketer's village react to scandal
  What do Mohammad Amir's family and home-village make of his alleged involvement in a cricket betting scam?
  
  
• Jolie appeals for Pakistan support
  Actress and UNHCR goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie has issued an appeal for increased public support in providing help and relief for the millions of people who have been affected by the floods in Pakistan.
  
  
• One-minute World News
  Watch the latest news summary from BBC World News. International news updated 24 hours a day.
  
  
• In pictures
  Hindus celebrate birth of Krishna at Janmashtami celebration
  
  
• Poo power
  How Peru is converting bird droppings into energy