Gunmen in Syria abduct the elderly father of Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, one of the most powerful voices in the government.

The authorities in Ivory Coast arrest militia leader Amade Oueremi, suspected of one of the worst massacres during 2011 post-election violence.

The outgoing Bank of England governor warns a government plan to boost the housing market with part-mortgage guarantees has no long-term place.

Jonny Wilkinson kicks 11 points to help Toulon come from behind to lift the Heineken Cup at the expense of Clermont Auvergne.

Education Secretary Michael Gove receives one of the angriest receptions of his three years in office as he appears before head teachers in Birmingham.

Greece sees the launch of a new political party, Plan B, which supports leaving the euro and returning to the drachma.

Nigeria's military announces a 24-hour curfew in parts of the city of Maiduguri and says it has arrested 65 militants as it fights Boko Haram rebels.

England lose four late wickets as they close day three of the first Test at Lord's on 180-6, leading New Zealand by 205.

Wiltshire Police name the two female victims of what they call an "horrific incident", which also left three men seriously injured.

Tens of thousands of protesters, led by trade unionists, rally in the Italian capital Rome against the policies of the new coalition government.

Demonstrators march through London in protest at changes to the NHS.

A British child who died in a pool at a hotel in Egypt is named as five-year-old Chloe Johnson from Forest Hill, south London.

Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova will travel to New York on Monday for "pioneering treatment" as he continues his cancer battle.

Governors at a school accused of inappropriate use of public money are urged to "take action" by Westminster Council.

Bradford score three times in the opening half-hour as they beat Northampton at Wembley to win promotion to League One.

Fresh outbreaks of violence in Iraq have left at least eight people dead, police say, hours after the worst day of sectarian violence in the country for months.

Marc Marquez clinches pole position after topping the qualifying session for Sunday's French MotoGP at Le Mans.

A 25-year-old Saudi woman makes history by reaching the summit of the world's highest mountain.

The US warns Nigeria's army against human rights violations as it pursues a campaign against Islamist militants in the north-east.

More than 60 people were injured, at least two critically, after a head-on collision between two commuter trains near New York, officials say.