Key excerpts from the speech by Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas to the UN General Assembly on Thursday:

The head of France's largest employers' union on Thursday slammed as "blackmail" a threat by the state to take over a plant owned by Lakshmi Mittal, amid claims in the steel tycoon's native India that he was a victim of racism.

The head of France's largest employers' union on Thursday slammed as "blackmail" a threat by the state to take over a plant owned by steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, amid outrage in Mittal's native India that he was a victim of racism.

Southampton goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga made a costly blunder in his side's 1-1 draw against Norwich as referee Mark Clattenburg returned after being cleared of racism allegations.

Racism is not a football problem, but a wider social ill, Portuguese star soccer player Luis Figo told AFP on Wednesday, in the wake of a succession of racial abuse scandals across European soccer.

French police have opened a criminal investigation into a raft of anti-Semitic messages posted on Twitter in a case that could test the microblogging site's refusal to mediate content.

Lazio continued efforts to distance themselves from their right wing fan base by wearing 'No Racism' shirts during a dominant 3-0 win over Udinese on Tuesday.

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke said Tuesday he expected "appropriate action" after police opened an investigation into allegations striker Romelu Lukaku was racially abused at Sunderland.

France's main Jewish students union (UEJF) has started legal action against Twitter to force the site to reveal details on people who posted a slew of anti-Semitic hate messages, its lawyer said Tuesday.

Chelsea expressed Tuesday their "regrets" over the way they complained of racist abuse by referee Mark Clattenburg.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said Tuesday those Hammers fans who chanted anti-Semitic abuse at Tottenham Hotspur supporters would be caught and punished.

The US Supreme Court has turned to workplace harassment, taking up the issue of whether an employer is responsible if the alleged tormentor is not strictly a boss.

Norwich City confirmed on Monday that they have made a formal complaint to police over alleged racial abuse sent to Cameroonian defender Sebastien Bassong on Twitter.

The Football Association (FA) announced on Monday that they have launched an investigation into reports of anti-Semitic abuse by West Ham United fans towards supporters of Tottenham Hotspur.

Two West Ham supporters were cautioned by police on Monday for aiming anti-Semitic taunts at Tottenham supporters during Sunday's Premier League clash at White Hart Lane.

Norwich City said on Sunday they would speak to police about allegations of racist abuse directed towards their Cameroonian defender Sebastien Bassong on Twitter.

British politicians lined up on Saturday to denounce a decision to take three ethnic minority children away from their foster parents because the couple support the anti-immigration UK Independence Party.

Harrison Dillard, who overcame racial prejudice to become the only man to achieve the Olympic double of 100m and 110m hurdles gold, and fought as a Buffalo Soldier in the Second World War, was honoured on Friday.

Harrison Dillard, who overcame racial prejudice to become the only man to achieve the Olympic double of 100m and 110m hurdles gold, and fought as a Buffalo Solider in the Second World War, was honoured on Friday.

Italian football bosses have offered an apology for the violent anti-Semitic incidents which greeted Tottenham fans in Rome, leaving several supporters in hospital and causing uproar in the Jewish community.