Koh-i-Noor diamond ’staying put’ in UK says Cameron
July 29, 2010
David Cameron has rejected calls for the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, which has been part of the Crown Jewels for 150 years, to be returned to India.
The diamond, which was mined in India, was seized by the East India Company in 1849 and presented to Queen Victoria.
Iraq helicopter crash kills five
July 29, 2010
A sandstorm has downed an Iraqi military helicopter, killing its five-member crew, while a Baghdad blast has killed five Iraqis, officials say.
The helicopter was providing aerial protection to Shia pilgrims travelling to the city of Karbala when it crashed in the sandstorm early in the morning.
Greek police clash with hauliers amid crippling strike
July 29, 2010
Greek police have fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of lorry drivers protesting in Athens.
The drivers are refusing to obey an emergency government order for them to end a crippling strike.
Moi told to respect Kenya leader
July 29, 2010
Kenya’s ex-President Daniel arap Moi has been told to respect his successor by a body set up to promote peace, after the two men exchanged insults during a referendum campaign.
President Mwai Kibaki wants Kenyans to approve a new constitution, while Mr Moi is leading the “no” campaign.
Bangladesh indicts Jamaat-e-Islami four on war crimes
July 26, 2010
Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal, which is investigating the country’s 1971 liberation struggle against Pakistan, has issued its first arrest warrants.
Court officials told the BBC the war crimes indictments targeted four leaders of Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami, already in custody.
EU to tighten sanctions over Iran nuclear programme
July 26, 2010
EU foreign ministers are set to formally approve restrictions on Iran’s energy sector, to block its controversial nuclear programme.
Sanctions will target foreign trade, financial services, and the oil and gas sectors - the backbone of the economy.
Sarkozy condemns hostage killing
July 26, 2010
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed the death of a French hostage killed by suspected al-Qaeda militants in north-west Africa.
Mr Sarkozy condemned the killing of 78-year-old Michel Germaneau as “odious”, saying it would not go unpunished.
Pakistan drone attack ‘kills 16 militants’
July 24, 2010
Missiles fired by a US drone aircraft have killed at least 16 militants in north-west Pakistan, officials say.
At least five missiles hit a compound used by insurgents in South Waziristan near the Afghan border, the Pakistani security officials said.
Rallies for Iranian woman sentenced to death
July 24, 2010
Rallies are being held around the world to highlight the continued imprisonment of an Iranian woman sentenced to death for adultery.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was originally told she would be killed by stoning but the sentence was put on hold following an international outcry.
Somali shell attack injures Koranic schoolchildren
July 19, 2010
Ten children were injured when a shell struck a Koranic school in Mogadishu, during fresh fighting between Somali troops and al-Shabab Islamist rebels.
The assault by the al-Qaeda-linked group began late on Sunday, targeting government and African Union (AU) bases in the Bondhere and Shibi districts.