A quarter of gay people surveyed in a major EU poll say they have been subjected to attacks or violent threats in the past five years.

President Obama is coming under pressure to intervene in Syria by members of Congress

Argentina's former military leader Jorge Rafael Videla has died aged 87 while serving a sentence for crimes against humanity, including torture.

Burma's President Thein Sein heads to the US to meet President Obama - in the first US state visit by Burmese leader since 1966.

Fire and rescue services in England need to be "transformed" to become more efficient and effective, a review commissioned by the government says.

Inmates at a Brazil jail have taken to knitting in an enterprise with a local fashion designer which sees them earn one day off their sentence for every three days spent knitting.

World number one Novak Djokovic loses to Czech Tomas Berdych in the Italian Open quarter-finals.

Mark Cavendish sprints to victory after a punishing stage 13 at the Giro d'Italia, his fourth win of this year's race.

Some of the week's best news photos from around the world

Alleged terrorists on witness protection were able to board flights because their new identities were not updated on the US no-fly list, a watchdog finds.

At least 20 people are killed when a mine collapses in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the government says.

James Anderson becomes only the fourth England player to take 300 Test wickets during the first Test against New Zealand.

Two Nigerians are sentenced to seven years in prison over the deaths of at least 80 children who took adulterated teething medicine.

A senior Chinese official says "uncivilised behaviour" by some Chinese tourists is damaging the country's image abroad.

Singer George Michael is airlifted to hospital with a head injury following a crash on the M1.

The Nigerian military says it has launched an all-out assault on Islamist militants in the north-east of the country.

A Saudi man has died after setting himself on fire in protest at his treatment by authorities, the BBC has learned.

Explosions near two mosques in a village in the Malakand region of north-west Pakistan leave at least 13 people dead.

Spain records its first monthly trade surplus in more than 40 years as demand for imports dries up.

Toulon's Jonny Wilkinson is among five nominees for European Player of the Year following his impressive Heineken Cup displays.