South Sudan's vice-president has dismissed rumours of a planned military coup, saying it would be 'unwise' for army officers to attempt a takeover.

Egypt has announced that a ceasefire had been reached to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, starting later in the day.

Mediator Lakhdar Brahimi called on Sunday for talks between the Syrian opposition and an "acceptable delegation" from the Damascus government.

The Group of Seven is to hold emergency talks on the eurozone in a sign of heightened alarm about the threat posed by strain in the monetary union.

Rock drillers at Lonmin's Marikana mine have accepted a 22% overall pay increase to end more than five weeks of crippling and bloody strikes.

Oscar Pistorius broke down in tears in court after hearing he had been charged with the murder of Reeva Steenkamp.

Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will resign, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years.

A new British-based Islamist group plans to meet in Islamabad to issue a religious decree against Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai.