There's probably more to come

The big freeze seems to defy all the logic of a warming world, but this is just part of the wild fluctuations that can happen naturally

Kepler telescope finds five new worlds

Early discoveries give boost to orbiting observatory's mission to track down rocky, Earth-like planets

Police give left-footed shoe thieves the boot

Gang stole left shoes from shop displays in Sweden and matched them with items pilfered over the border in Copenhagen

Five US Muslims to appear in Pakistan court

US men suspected of plotting attacks in Pakistan face life sentences on terror charges when they appear in court on Monday

Missing ministers a threat to London summit

The triumph of the Afghan parliament’s voting power is little consolation to those desperate for an end to political limbo

We are beaten in jail, say gay Malawi couple

Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza want their case to be taken to court as campaigners warn of rising homophobia

White House cuisine put to the reality test

Michelle Obama uses a popular television cooking show to help her campaign to promote healthy meals for children

Smartphone? Google’s could be a real know-all

The internet company wil bring its first smartphone into a rapidly growing market in an attempt to challenge Apple’s iPhone

'Orchard of Yemeni fighters' grows from poverty

A military approach to stop the terrorists may send more Yemenis, already wary of Western intervention, over to al-Qaeda

Alan McMenemy 'may still be alive'

The fate of the final hostage kidnapped alongside Peter Moore and three other Britons is expected to be known within days

Passion that separates Africa from the West

The case of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga highlights how the issue of homosexuality has divided cultures

Arrested Somali linked to plot to kill Clinton

The man who broke into the home of the Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard was earlier held by the Kenyan authorities

Embassies closed after al-Qaeda warning

Terror group responds to Anglo-American promises of renewed counter-terrorism effort with threats to embassy personnel

President Zuma prepares to wed fifth wife

Tobeka Madiba already has two children with the South African leader, who is rumoured to be lining up a sixth wife

No way out as snow storms paralyse Beijing

Hundreds of flights cancelled and main roads to and from the capital shut as forecasters predict temperatures of -16C

Body of fifth hostage 'may be released in days'

Iraqi group prepares to release Alan McMenemy, who British officials insist is dead, in exchange for militant cleric

Pope sends his secretary to visit attacker

Father Georg Gaenswein visits Susanna Maiolo at secure psychiatric unit to 'show the Pope's interest and benevolence'

British aircraft remains found in Antarctica

Record low tides lead Australian explorers to what they believe are the remains of the first aircraft brought to Antarctica

Mexican police arrest alleged drug lord

Fears of new turf war after Carlos Beltran Leyva is captured two weeks after his brother was killed in a shootout