An asteroid that is nearly 3km across passes the Earth at a safe distance, making its closest approach to Earth at 21:59 BST on Friday.

Leading Russian economist Sergei Guriev tells the BBC he has fled to France because he feared losing his freedom on tramped-up accusations.

Colombia rejects as "crazy" allegations made earlier this week that it is trying to destabilise Venezuela, in the latest diplomatic row.

An environmentalist campaigning for the protection of endangered sea turtles in Costa Rica is found dead on a local beach.

UN officials express dismay at reports that nine North Korean refugees were repatriated by China after being arrested in Laos.

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel accuses China of "cyber intrusions" at a conference attended by Chinese military officials.

Quotas on the number of European Union citizens allowed to work in Switzerland come into force, in a move criticised by Brussels.

Protests in Turkey are entering a second day, after police clashed with thousands of demonstrators occupying a park in central Istanbul.