North Korea reports pledges of loyalty to new leader Kim Jong-un as his father Kim Jong-il lies in state in the capital Pyongyang.

Sportswear maker Nike saw its quarterly income rise, helped by continuing strong demand for its branded products.

Prosecutors argued that Pte Bradley Manning had contact with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, on the fifth day of his pre-trial hearing.

Banks in Cuba begin offering loans to individual citizens, in the latest free-market reform designed to revive the island's socialist economy.

The US Federal Reserve has proposed new rules for the biggest US banks aimed at strengthening the financial system against another collapse.

Frankincense - a traditional staple of the Christmas story - faces an uncertain future, according to researchers.

Conservation charities and academics begin a three-year research project to find out whether hearing birdsong has any impact on people's mental wellbeing.

US Vice-President Joe Biden urges Iraq's leaders to resolve a deepening political crisis which has sparked fears of renewed sectarian conflict.