A committee of Ugandan MPs endorses the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill but drops the death penalty provision, an MP tells the BBC.

Bolivia says its first census in 11 years, which brought the South American country to a halt, went ahead without any major incidents.

Marxist rebel group Farc free four Chinese oil workers they had held for 17 months, days after peace talks with the Colombian government begin.

DR Congo suspends its army chief over claims he sold weapons to armed groups, as the government says it has seized back a town from rebels.

Argentina says it will appeal against a US ruling ordering it to pay $1.3bn owed to foreign bond holders since its debt default in 2001.

Opposition groups denounce Egypt President Mursi's decree giving himself sweeping powers as a "coup against legitimacy" and call for protests.

Angela Merkel says she doubts EU leaders will close a deal on their budget during the current summit in Brussels.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon says he wants to change the official name of the country from the United States of Mexico to, simply, Mexico.