The African Union has backed a regional bloc plan to deploy more than 3,000 soldiers to Mali to retake the north from Islamist extremists.

A Saudi student who plotted to bomb the Texas home of ex-President George W Bush and other targets is sentenced to life in jail.

One of the world's most admired diamonds, the Archduke Joseph, is sold at auction in Geneva for more than $21m (£13m).

The puppeteer of Sesame Street favourite Elmo describes his relief as a 23-year-old man admits his allegation of underage sex was false.

Thousands of protesters take to the streets in Jordanian cities to condemn rises in fuel prices following the lifting of government subsidies.

Workers across the European Union are set to stage a series of protests against rising unemployment and austerity measures.

Georgia's ex-defence minister Bacho Akhalaia is charged over the alleged torture of soldiers, amid tensions following last month's leadership change.

Brazil's Supreme Court sentences former President Lula's chief of staff Jose Dirceu to 10 years and 10 months in jail for corruption.