WORLD

Competitive chimney climbing, sleigh riding and map reading to sort out good from bad Santas.

India's coalition government , headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agrees hold debate and voting on the retail sector reforms.

Two tickets bought in Arizona and Missouri have won the US Powerball lottery jackpot share of $550m (£344m) in the 28 November drawing.

American singer thinks performance at IDF fundraiser would be inconsistent with his UN peace role.

Two men have been arrested in Kunduz for beheading teenager known as Gisa with a knife.

He's been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London for a several months now, and his self-imposed exile is apparently making him ill.

Republican presidential nominee ends disappointing year by topping magazine’s 'useless' poll.

Unsafe buildings and deadly working conditions the real cause of deaths of 111 workers in Bangladesh garment factory.

Video of anaconda regurgitating fully grown cow in South American jungle swamp goes viral on YouTube.

Ortega was indicted on murder charges after two children found stabbed to death in bath of their Manhattan home.

Man who sparked worldwide protests with blasphemous film and Koran-burning US pastor Terry Jones insulted Islam.

Sun-soaked beach falls prey to strange phenomenon as waters turn crimson

Workers try to set fire to factory just hours after blaze at Walmart plant kills 111 people at nearby Tazreen.

Gunmen open fire on military attache's car killing him and his bodyguard.

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault confirms Moscow-backed cathedral will still be built despite criticism from Parisian public.

Twitter agrees to cancel anti-Semitic messages under hashtag in face of legal threats but new ones appear.

Two car bombs explode in the loyalist suburb of Jaramana in the Syrian capital, Damascus, but total number of deaths uncertain.

Four people have now died at a retirement home after eating the poisonous soup.

US Treasury stops short of provocative label despite existence of disparities in currency values.

Thailand's first female first minister was accused of corruption over rice-pledging scheme and food relief.

Protesters want end to Mursi regime but Muslim Brotherhood maintains support for president's latest decree.

Duke of Edinburgh escorts Arab leader to inspect guard of honour for state visit.

Late chairman of Italian bank Banco Ambrosiano found hanging from London’s Blackfriars Bridge in 1982.

Thousands of demonstrators join protest camp to rally against president's sweeping new powers.

Communist paper publishes false article from famous US satirical website in good faith.

Blackmail video of 18-year-old nurse and Communist leader reveals corruption ring in Bo Xilai's Chongqing.

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius confirms support for Palestinian demand for observer status.

Nasa scientists believe 'veritable arcade' of thermal Pac-Man shapes may exist on Saturn’s moons.

Israel's US embassy uploads video mocking Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on way to UN vote.