United Kingdom

Britain's Standard Chartered and Barclays are among the major foreign banks with operations in Zimbabwe
Bob Diamond will still face questions from MPs tomorrow about the Libor scandal
Barclays traders lied about the interest rates other banks were charging it for loans
The benchmark FTSE 100 index of leading companies dipped 0.01 percent to 5,639.98
GSK is accused of paying kickbacks to doctors to gain their support for their drugs
With his latest win on Monday, Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarter-finals
Federer vs Malisse match on Monday was halted for rain at the end of the first set
After his latest win on Monday, Novak Djokovic can now rest until Wednesday
Belarus's Victoria Azarenka removes small feathers from the court
Seb Coe (R) and Rio Tinto Chairman Jan du Plessis pose at the Tower of London
Germany's Sabine Lisicki celebrates her fourth round women's singles victory over Russia's Maria Sharapova
Russia's Maria Sharapova
US player Serena Williams
Belgium's Kim Clijsters
Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova
Russia's Maria Kirilenko
The Afghanistan game will serve as a warm-up for Australia's series against Pakistan in the UAE
Julian Assange faces questioning in Sweden over sexual assault allegations
Julian Assange hopes that Ecuador will look sympathetically at his request for political asylum
British sprint king, Mark Cavendish has had 20 Tour de France stage wins to date

Bodies in streets of riot-hit Myanmar town

Charred bodies lay unclaimed on the streets of a riot-hit town in central Myanmar, witnesses said Friday, as global pressure mounted for an end to the Buddhist-Muslim unrest.
 

Singapore denies being haven for Malaysian tax cheats

Singapore on Friday strongly rejected a whistleblower's allegation that its banks facilitate massive tax evasion by a powerful family in neighbouring Malaysia's Sarawak state.
 

Mobs roam streets of riot-hit Myanmar town

Angry mobs took to the streets of a riot-hit Myanmar town for a third day on Friday, as international pressure mounted for an end to communal unrest that has left 10 people reported dead.
 

Letters reveal tensions in Thatcher gov't over Falklands War

Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher faced opposition from within her own government over the Falklands War, with one MP warning her "it'll make Suez look like common sense".
 

After Boateng, Italy looks to long fight with racism

It took a defiant gesture to reignite the debate on one of Italian sport's biggest demons, but the fight to rid football of racism in Serie A could be just beginning.
 

Balotelli levels as Italy draw 2-2 with Brazil

Daniele De Rossi sparked Italy's fightback and Mario Balotelli scored a superb second-half equaliser as the Azzurri battled to a 2-2 draw against Brazil in a friendly on Thursday.
 

Capello plays down Chelsea link

Russia coach Fabio Capello insists he has had no contact with Chelsea after being linked with a move to the Premier League club.
 

Cousin of British queen suffers stroke

Britain's Duke of Kent, Queen Elizabeth II's cousin has been hospitalised after suffering a mild stroke, Buckingham Palace said Thursday.
 

Police probe documents obtained in Abu Qatada search

Jordanian terror suspect Abu Qatada is under investigation over documents obtained by police during a search of his London home, Scotland Yard said Thursday.
 

Microsoft releases data on government requests

Microsoft said Thursday it received 75,378 law enforcement requests for data in 2012 in the tech giant's first report on the sensitive subject.
 

Murray hopes to turn up heat against Tomic

World No. 3 Andy Murray will try to turn up the heat when he faces rising Aussie Bernard Tomic in his second-round opener at the Miami ATP Masters.
 

Former BBC boss Dyke to be new FA chairman

Former BBC director general Greg Dyke is set to become the new chairman of the Football Association, the English game's governing body announced Thursday.
 

UN to launch Syria chemical weapons inquiry

The United Nations will investigate whether chemical weapons have been used in the Syria conflict, UN leader Ban Ki-Moon announced Thursday.
 

Iran leader hints at first direct US nuclear talks

Iran's supreme leader on Thursday signalled openness for the first time to US offers to hold direct talks on his country's disputed nuclear drive, but voiced pessimism over the chances of a breakthrough.
 

FTSE 100 shares close lower

London shares closed lower on Thursday as traders looked past positive economic data to focus on bleak eurozone news, notably fallout from the Cyprus bailout impasse.
 

European stocks retreat on disappointing data, Cyprus

European stock markets slid Thursday as disappointing eurozone data and the Cyprus bailout impasse overshadowed strong Chinese economic performance.
 

Spain borrowing costs dip despite Cyprus crisis

Spain's borrowing costs dipped in a bond auction Thursday, easing concerns that a feared banking meltdown in Cyprus could scare investors away from other troubled eurozone states.
 

Downton Abbey leads way in TV exports

Britain in 2012 held on to its position as the world's second biggest exporter of television programmes after the US on the back of hit dramas such as Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife, a report said on Thursday.
 

Scottish independence referendum set for Sept 18, 2014

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said on Thursday that Scots will vote on September 18, 2014 in a referendum on whether the country should be independent.
 

Major hyperrealist painting show opens in Madrid

An exhibition of 50 paintings by hyperrealist artists whose works depict shop windows, camper vans, street views and other everyday scenes in such painstaking detail that they resemble photographs opens Friday in Madrid.