Evidence of life on Mars lurks in meteorite

Nasa scientists have produced the most compelling evidence yet that bacterial life exists on Mars

Son of clan boss charged with Philippines massacre

Andal Ampatuan Jnr charged over massacre of at least 57 journalists and activists as authorities pursue armed group

TV wannabes gatecrash White House state dinner

Michaele and Tareq Salahi evaded security checks to mingle with VIP guests at state dinner for Indian PM Manmohar Singh

Q&A: is China's target as impressive as it sounds?

Does China's announcement increase the chances of a successful outcome at Copenhagen?

Obama has mountain to climb and gulf to bridge

The President is in danger of disappointing its supporters abroad and angering its opponents at home on climate change

Journalists freed from captivity in Somalia

Nigel Brennan and Amanda Lindhout had been pistol whipped, tortured and held in chains throughout their 15-month long ordeal

South Korea urged to apologise for massacre

Truth and Reconciliation Commission confirms murders of 5,000 alleged left-wingers by police and army in 1950

Clerical power has been ‘market driven’

In traditional Catholic Ireland, the priests were not only respected and accorded power, they were regarded as family

Mohamed ElBaradei hits ‘dead end’ with Iran

Head of International Atomic Energy Agency criticises leadership for rejecting plan to send its nuclear fuel abroad

West Bank settlers dismiss new freeze plan

No new permits will be issued and no new construction can start — but is not stopping builders already hard at work

Sri Lanka's summit bid snubbed by Brown

The Prime Minister is against the country hosting Commonwealth leaders in 2011 because of campaign against the Tamil Tigers

Obama ‘has unrealistic hopes for Nato surge’

US President expected to send another 30,000 American troops to Afghanistan — but Nato will be less forthcoming, say analysts

Briton 'used marriage proposals to con women'

After allegedly taking up to €700,000 from his victims the man, who claimed to be aristocrat, would fake his death

Gender reassignment patients must wait a year

Concern at the number of patients having surgery in Thailand leads to a ruling that candidates should cross-dress first

French fail to grab control of EU finances

Britain expects to defeat President Sarkozy’s campaign to take key post in European Commission, due to be announced today

West fears worldwide firesale of Dubai assets

Markets are stunned with the announcement that the Government of Dubai is seeking a standstill on repayment of its debts

France voted world’s leading wine producer

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine reports that France has knocked Italy off the top spot