Emanuelle Degli Esposti

Three Buddhist monks set themselves alight in protest over Chinese rule in Tibet.

The Vatican has been caught using large chunks of text taken directly from Wikipedia in its biographies of 22 new cardinals.

After undergoing surgery for thyroid cancer, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has received the all-clear.

Four boxes containing tiger skins, bones and skulls have been seized by Thai customs officials following a tip-off.

Chinese artist and dissident encouraged by authorities' decision to review charges against him

An overview of Epiphany celebration by Christians acorss the world.

Three homeless men have been stabbed to death in a series of killings thought to be motivated by a personal vendetta, California police said.

Israel suspects a potential terror plot may be planned to target Israeli tourists in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.

More than 50 people have been killed in a spate of bomb attacks in southern Iraq and Baghdad.

A Bluefin tuna has been sold for three quarters of a million dollars in Tokyo - making it the world's most expensive fish.

Syrian activists have accused the government of manipulating and deceiving Arab League monitors.

Trenitalia has responded to outrage at 'racist' web commercial by re-launching a new version of the offending video.

Baghdad's Shiite districts targeted by five bomb attacks stoking fears of rising sectarian violence.

On the anniversary of Mohammed Bouazizi's death, what sort of legacy has been created by the 26-year-old fruit seller?

Hospital blunder only discovered after parents use DNA tests to settle marital dispute.

State media applaud government campaign to slash dating and talent shows, as well as reality TV, for China's TV addicts.

White House agrees in principle to release Taliban leaders as part of peace negotiations.

Alain Juppe says Iran should face tighter sanctions over controversial nuclear programme.

Kim Jong-il's funeral stage-managed right down to what grieving crowds could and could not wear, say sources.

A group of computer hackers, thought to be from Saudi Arabia, claim to have stolen and published the details of up to 400,000 active Israeli credit cards.

Health officials confirm Hong Kong's brand-new government headquarters contaminated with potentially fatal disease.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was the first to issue a decree in 2006 banning men from working in lingerie shops to end "embarrassment" suffered by women buying intimate items from the opposite sex.

Peace talks resume with first face-to-face meeting in more than a year.

Former Chief Executive of Hewlett-Packard Co. Mark Hurd repeatedly pursued and targeted actress Jodie Fisher in attempts to cajole her into having sex with him, according to a controversial letter released on Thursday.

At least 10 feared dead after mass protests clash with security forces in Damascus, Homs, Hama and Deraa.

Lunar landing target set by China after US pulls back from space race.

US State Department 'concerned' by surprise raids on human rights offices.

Pre-emptive assault on Gaza Strip 'terror squad' foils rocket attack on Israel, says IDF.

Israeli security forces arrested prominent right-wing activists in the West Bank early Thursday, reports Haaretz.