Neda Soltan’s grave defaced for second time

The young woman who was shot dead in protests in Iran has become the posthumous target for ‘embarrassing’ the regime

Row over London links to Detroit bomber

Yemeni Government claims Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was radicalised and recruited by al-Qaeda while a student in London

Difficulties of mixing soldiers and civilians

The reconstruction officials are unlikely to be missed by their military counterparts if their power is reduced this year

Britain refused to put Iraqi civilians at risk

Commander tells inquiry that Iraqis’ requests to strike targets were declined amid concerns over civilian casualties

Chinese face eviction for spitting

The ubiquitous habit has hitherto proved almost impossible to stamp out despite repeated government attempts to do so

China in grip of a cold snap — and energy crunch

China’s problems with its energy resources, while prompted by the weather, go to the heart of its struggles to transform itself

Battle for evidence of ‘war without witnesses’

Despite efforts by the Sri Lankan Government, much of what has emerged has come from photographs, video and human testimony

Landmark New York restaurant to be sold

Tavern on the Green was a big draw for stars such as John Lennon, Michael Jackson and Duke Ellington

Envoys meet to defuse clash over Iraqi oil well

Iran and Iraq have attempted to ease diplomatic tensions that flared over an Iraqi oil well in a disputed border area

Attack on CIA 'planned by bin Laden aides'

Suicide attack by Jordanian that killed seven CIA agents was planned by Haqqani network that is shielding al-Qaeda leader

Speeding Ferrari? That will be £181,632.39

Millionaire Swiss motorist clocks up painful penalty for doing 63mph through a village in his red Ferrari Testarossa

Plane bomb suspect 'joined al-Qaeda in London'

Yemeni government claims that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was radicalised on UK soil, contradicting Home Secretary

CIA attack was 'revenge for al-Qaeda deaths'

Suicide bomber Abu-Mulal al-Balawi wrote in will that we wanted to avenge "righteous martyrs" killed in US drone attacks

Christmas Day 'bomber' charged

Failed airplane bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab charged with attempted murder and trying to use weapon of mass destruction

Elephant tramples tourists to death

Elephant charged American tourists hiking on Kenya natural trail killing a mother and the baby daughter she held in her arms

Inquiries launched into whaling collision

Australia and New Zealand investigate Southern Ocean collision between environmentalists' boat and Japanese whaling ship

Polanski judge considers 'in absentia' sentence

Roman Polanski might be free by end of month after ruling by judge in Los Angeles over film director's 1978 sex crime