The Russian central bank announces a huge rise in its key interest rate - to 17% from 10.5% - to try to stem the rouble's fall.

Researchers in Brazil discover a "super-bacteria" in the sea waters where sailing and windsurfing events will be held during the 2016 Olympics.

A US court rules that a law requiring porn actors in Los Angeles County to wear condoms does not infringe constitutional rights to free speech.

Australian police begin an investigation into the deaths of three people during the operation to end a 16-hour siege in a central Sydney cafe.

At least 23 people have been killed and 40 hurt in a Taliban assault on an army-run school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, officials say.

The rouble slides again to near all-time lows despite a dramatic move by Russia's central bank to raise rates to 17% from 10.5%.

Japan has culled around 4,000 chickens after a highly infectious strain of bird flu was detected on a poultry farm.

Seven people are detained in a series of raids by Spain and Morocco on a suspected network recruiting women to join Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.