A US defence contractor settles with former inmates of Abu Ghraib for $5m (£3m), after a subsidiary is accused of conspiring to torture prisoners.

Pirates free three Italians kidnapped by gunmen off the coast of Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta region last month, says Italy's foreign ministry.

Students in an Ohio city where two high school footballers are accused of rape are to have unarmed guards posted at their schools.

The Obama administration publicly expresses concern about the impact of a UK referendum on its future relationship with the EU.

US cycling star Lance Armstrong will be interviewed by talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, amid reports that he will publicly admit to doping.

The UK hosts a conference of experts on Syria to plan for the possibility of the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Egypt's President Morsi is to mediate talks between the leaders of Fatah and Hamas to help implement a unity pact between the Palestinian rivals.

Experiments show wet objects are easier to handle with water-wrinkled fingers than with dry ones, hinting at a deeper evolutionary driver behind prune-like skin.