Syria Syrian rebels clash with Assad forces in Damascus As the diplomatic wrangling rages over military action against Syria, fighting on ground appears to be continuing unabated. A video uploaded to a 02/09/2013
USA Swimmer becomes first person to cross Florida Straits without a shark cage Swimmer Diana Nyad has become the first person to swim from Cuba to the United States without a shark cage. The 64-year-old set off on Saturday and 02/09/2013
Sport Horner rolls back years to take Vuelta lead American veteran Chris Horner regained the overall race lead at this year’s Tour of Spain on Monday after he won stage 10 to Alto Hazallanas. At 02/09/2013
Sport Georgia edge out reigning judo world champions Russia The men’s and women’s team events wrapped up proceedings at the World Judo championships in Rio de Janeiro. Georgia won the men’s team gold after 02/09/2013
Sport A dream come true for Bale Gareth Bale said his world record move to Real Madrid was a dream comes true. The Wales international was officially unveiled at the Santiago 02/09/2013
France France to hold debate but no vote on military action in Syria The French prime minister has been showing leaders of parliament evidence which he says proves President Assad’s forces used chemical warfare. The 02/09/2013
Croatia Protests in Croatia over use of Cyrillic Several hundred Croat protesters have torn down signs written in Serb Cyrillic that were put up on Monday in Vukovar, a town devastated during the 02/09/2013
Romania EU funds fail to stop Romanian town from going bust The Romanian town of Aninoasa has become the country’s first to file for bankruptcy. Despite having access to EU financial aid, officials have been 02/09/2013
corporate Windfall for Vodafone with $130 bln Verizon Wireless deal A huge and historic deal has been announced in the telecoms world as US company Verizon said it was buying the 45 percent of its mobile phone 02/09/2013
brussels bureau Bigger and better: study finds European men getting taller The height of European men has shot up by an average of 11 cms, according to a new study. British researchers studied the height of males from 15 02/09/2013
Ireland Funeral of Nobel laureate Heaney in Dublin The funeral service of Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney has taken place in Dublin. Widely regarded as the greatest Irish poet since W.B. Yeats, he died 02/09/2013
Tunisia Tunisian rappers jailed for "insulting officials" Two Tunisian rappers have been sentenced to 21 months in prison by a court in Tunisia for insulting officials, violating public morals and 02/09/2013
Insight Emerging or submerging: currency turmoil The recent fierce selloff of many emerging economies currencies has now abated somewhat, but the crisis is not over by a long way. The expected 02/09/2013
Insight Debate stalemate: Merkel still ahead after holding off Steinbruck challenge The first televised debate in the build up to the German general election between current Chancellor Angela Merkel and leading opposition candidate 02/09/2013
Sport Kaka back in Milan After four frustrating years at Real Madrid Brazilian attacking midfielder and former Ballon d’or winner Kaka has returned to Italian side AC Milan 02/09/2013
Sport Alonso ventures into the world of Cycling Fernando Alonso is to try his hand at team ownership but not in formula one. The Spaniard has stepped in to save cycling team Euskaltel-Euskadi 02/09/2013
Turkey 'Post-modern coup' trial begins for Turkish generals A trial has begun for the first of more than 100 senior Turkish army officers over their alleged role in ousting Turkey’s first Islamist-led 02/09/2013
USA Diana Nyad becomes the first to swim Florida Straits without shark cage American Diana Nyad has become the first to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. Nyad, 64, who was making her fifth attempt at the 02/09/2013
Portugal Portugal on alert once again over wildfires Wildfires have broken out once again in Portugal. Northern and central parts of the country are most affected. A combination of high temperatures 02/09/2013
Germany Germany: 'no clear winner' after live TV election debate German Chancellor Angela Merkel has taken on her main election rival, Peer Steinbrueck of the centre-left SDP party in a live TV debate. Both were 02/09/2013
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan accused of clampdown on freedoms ahead of election Authorities in Azerbaijan are engaged in an “abusive strategy” to clampdown on freedom of expression ahead of elecitons next month, say Human Rights 02/09/2013
Japan Rare twister hits outskirts of Tokyo The suburbs of Tokyo have been hit by a rare tornado that swept through Noda city and Koshigaya on Monday. It damaged hundreds of homes, cutting 02/09/2013
Germany Trial begins of 92-year-old former Nazi A 92-year-old man accused of shooting a Dutch resistance fighter in the back when he was a member of the Waffen SS during WWII has gone on trial in 02/09/2013
Spain Bale's Real Madrid "dream" comes true for world record fee Real Madrid have officially unveiled their new player Gareth Bale, whose transfer has broken the world record fee. The 24-year-old Welshman joins 02/09/2013
Afghanistan Taliban attack US base in northern Afghanistan The second Taliban attack in a week on a NATO base in Afghanistan has added to the alliance’s supply problems. The attack in Nangahar province meant 02/09/2013
hi-tech A most modern of ironies Seeing a young child completely engrossed by a mobile phone is becoming an increasingly common sight. Online price comparison outfit, uSwitch, claim 02/09/2013
economy Oil steadies as supply worries ease Oil prices steadied on Monday after slipping as the threat of large-scale US military attacks on Syria was scaled back. The cost of crude had been 02/09/2013
corporate Verizon poised for Vodafone deal Verizon Communications is set to take full control of its US mobile phone business – Verizon Wireless. It is paying $130 billion dollars – almost 02/09/2013
Syria Russia casts doubts on US evidence for chemical attacks by Assad As the US gets ready for possible military attacks on Syria, President Assad’s main ally, Russia, is sending a spy ship to the eastern Mediterranean 02/09/2013