Bolivia's army is baking and selling bread to the public to counter a strike by bakers angry at a fuel price hike.

An explosion outside a church in the Egyptian city of Alexandria kills several people, security officials and witnesses say.

Sri Lanka's government decides to change the names of all state institutions still bearing the nation's former British colonial name, Ceylon.

The Discovery Channel says it will not air a re-enactment of Michael Jackson's autopsy, amid concerns the programme was distasteful.

North Korea says it wants better relations with the South, but vows to increase its military strength, in an annual New Year's Eve message published by state media.

An official warns of the economic impact of flooding in Queensland, describing the disaster as one of "biblical proportions".

Estonia becomes the 17th member of the eurozone - the first former Soviet republic to adopt the EU's single currency.

Ivory Coast's incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo rejects a deadline for him to stand down, saying the international community is mounting a coup against him.