world news Israel blockades Palestinian border The Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank have been blockaded by Israeli troops today – in advance of a Jewish holiday. In a military 22/05/2007
world news Blast leaves at least 10 injured in Beirut Amid the tension over battles in a refugee camp in northern Lebanon, a second explosion in as many days has rocked a suburb of Beirut. A bomb went 22/05/2007
world news Aid agencies turned away as Lebanese clashes enter third day A UN convoy is trying to gain access to the refugee camp in Tripoli under siege by Lebanese troops. Trucks arriving at a military checkpoint outside 22/05/2007
world news Murder charge in Litvinenko poisoning case Prosecutors in Britain say they will charge a former Russian spy with the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko. The Crown Prosecution Service 22/05/2007
world news Urgent calls for a truce to end fighting in Lebanon For the second night in a row, the Lebanese capital has been rocked by a bomb blast. The explosion in West Beirut’s upmarket Muslim neighbourhood of 22/05/2007
world news Deadly bomb attack in popular district of Ankara An explosion has rocked a popular district of Ankara in Turkey, reportedly causing at least four deaths. The mayor of Ankara says the blast was 22/05/2007
world news Israel launches new airstrikes in Gaza The deadly attack in Sderot comes amid continuing Israeli air strikes in Gaza. Witnesses said the latest raid destroyed a workshop and metal foundry 22/05/2007
world news Turbulence ahead for Alitalia Airports across Italy are bracing themselves for disruption today. The country’s flag-carrier Alitalia has cancelled almost 400 national and 22/05/2007
world news Death of Israeli in rocket attack deepens Gaza crisis The death of an Israeli woman in a rocket attack on the southern Israeli town of Sderot is likely to stoke further anger in an already tense 22/05/2007
brussels bureau Italy won't back truncated EU treaty If the EU countries cannot agree a high-standard compromise over a common constitutional treaty, Italy would prefer a two-speed Europe. Prime 22/05/2007
brussels bureau Affirming that "France is back in Europe..." French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to spell out his idea for a quick institutional reform treaty for the European Union in Brussels this 22/05/2007
world news Talks in Lebanon to ease violence Diplomatic efforts have begun to try to ease the situation in Lebanon, with the European Union’s foreign policy chief visiting Beirut. Javier Solana 22/05/2007
world news Litvinenko- how the drama unfolded December 7, 2006, saw the funeral of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. But the suspicions, accusations and conspiracy theories were far from 22/05/2007
world news Life inside Lebanon's Palestinian refugee camps One of the conditions of a recent Saudi-brokered Middle East peace plan calls for a ‘just solution’ to the Palestinian refugee problem. Refugee camps 22/05/2007
world news Poll surge for Bertie Ahern ahead of Irish vote In a tight electoral race, there has been some last minute good news for the Irish Prime Minister. Two days before a parliamentary ballot, an opinion 22/05/2007
world news 100th anniversary of Tintin's creator Herge, the creator of Tintin, is being celebrated in his native Belgium and beyond on the day that would have marked his 100th birthday. He admitted 22/05/2007
world news Russia says 'no' to extradition in Litvinenko case Prosecutors in Britain are to lay a murder charge over the death of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko. Former Russian spy Andrei Lugovoy is to be 22/05/2007
world news Italian air strikes leave passengers stranded Twin strikes in Italy have plunged air travel into chaos. Hundreds of domestic and international flights have been cancelled. Passengers stuck at 22/05/2007
world news Lebanese ceasefire in the balance after shells hit aid convoy A fragile truce hangs by a thread between the Lebanese army and Islamic militants in the city of Tripoli. A ceasefire was called earlier by Fatah 22/05/2007
World Gus van Sant's new movie Paranoid Park at Cannes Two seemingly awkward anonymous adolescents take in the Cannes film festival they are Gabe Nevins and Jake Miller actors in the new Gus Van Sant film 22/05/2007