Wikileaks website founder Julian Assange vows to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy in London even if accusations of sex crimes are dropped.

Wikileaks website founder Julian Assange vows to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy in London even if accusations of sex crimes are dropped.

The Roman Catholic shrine at Lourdes has been evacuated after flash floods struck south-western France.

The Roman Catholic shrine at Lourdes has been evacuated after flash floods struck south-western France.

A silent, standing protest by performance artist Erdem Gunduz has been taken up by hundreds of anti-government demonstrators and spread to several Turkish cities.

Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica is provisionally suspended from competition after testing positive for a banned substance.

US First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Malia and Sasha have lunch with Irish rock star Bono and visit Glendalough.

Students in Sao Paulo tell the BBC why the protests in the country are taking place

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.

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.

The Chilean Supreme Court approves the extradition of former Argentine judge Otilio Romano, accused of human rights abuses under the military government.

Ministers are considering a ban on face-down restraint in English mental hospitals as figures show the technique is being widely used.

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

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

At least 28 people, including a newly-elected lawmaker, are killed in a suicide bombing at a funeral in north-west Pakistan, officials say.

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

Five-time singles champion Venus Williams is forced to pull out of Wimbledon because of a back injury.

Portraits by 19th century photographers Henry and Charles Meade are subjects of a new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington.

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.

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.