Russia expresses grave concern at an alleged Israeli air attack on Syria, amid reports that either a research facility or a weapons convoy had been targeted.

A 15-year-old Icelandic girl has won the right to use the name her mother gave her, after she took authorities to court over it.

Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg moves to stamp out rumours that the social network is planning to make its own mobile phone.

The boss of Electronic Arts denies a link between video games and violent acts, but says his industry needs to "step up" and address a "perception problem".

Spain's ruling conservatives deny allegations that Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and others benefited from secret party accounts.

Twenty four hours of news photos: 31 January

Hackers in China have attacked New York Times computers, the paper says, in a move it links to its reports on the Chinese premier's relatives' wealth.

The A&E department at Lewisham hospital is to be downgraded after a neighbouring trust ran up debts of £150m.

Eyewitness account of Algeria hostage crisis

Tax chiefs at the Big Four accountancy firms defend themselves against claims they are behind tax avoidance schemes that damage the UK's interests.

China's smog raises questions about future economic growth

Over 60 penguins and a sea lion rescued last year off the Brazilian coast are released back into the wild.

Three Argentinean magicians talk about their profession on the International day of the Magicians.

The government has announced that it will not sell off publicly owned forests in England.

A passenger train has derailed and smashed into a station platform in Brisbane, Australia injuring 14 people.

A stunning collection of Renaissance silverware worth tens of millions of pounds is bequeathed to Oxford University's Ashmolean Museum.

The woman held in a bank and lashed by Mali militants

A US man is charged for allegedly blackmailing more than 350 women by threatening to post nude images of them on Facebook.

At least 300 people, including many schoolchildren, are injured when two passenger trains collide near the South African capital, Pretoria, officials say.

Israeli settlements in the occupied territories violate Palestinians' human rights in ways designed to drive them off the land, a UN report states.