Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in a suicide attack. Ms Bhutto - the first woman PM in an Islamic state - was leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi when a gunman shot her in the neck and set off a bomb. At least 20 other people died in the attack and several more were injured. President Pervez Musharraf has urged people to remain calm but angry protests have

Oil prices have fallen below $59 a barrel amid expectations of warmer weather in the United States. US light, sweet crude dipped 73 cents to $58.66 in New York, while in London, Brent crude fell 57 cents to $58.33. Analysts predict lower energy demand in the US Northeast, the world's biggest user of heating oil, as the weather gets milder and consumption ebbs. Oil cartel Opec's statement that it w

Japan has expressed its displeasure at a resolution before the US Congress calling on Tokyo to apologise for the country's use of sex slaves in wartime. Foreign Minister Taro Aso said the resolution was not based on facts. Sponsored by several members of the US House of Representatives, the proposed text urges Tokyo to formally resolve the issue of so-called "comfort women". Japan admits its army

Last Updated: Wednesday, 6 December 2006, 16:17 GMT The conflict in Darfur in western Sudan began in 2003 after rebel groups began attacking government targets, saying their communities were being discriminated against in favour of Arabs. Darfur, which means land of the Fur, has faced many years of tension over land and grazing rights between the mostly nomadic Arabs, and farmers from the Fur, Mas

Japanese consumers appear to be keeping a tight rein on spending A drop in Japan's household spending and rise in unemployment has raised question marks over whether interest rates will be raised soon. Household spending fell 1.9% in December, the 12th drop in a row, prompting fears slow wage growth means shoppers are unwilling to spend. Meanwhile, the jobless rate rose to 4.1% from 4.0% in Novemb

Japan's state broadcaster NHK has been ordered to pay compensation in a row over a television programme about the country's use of sex slaves in wartime. Tokyo's High Court decided the broadcaster had altered the contents of the programme, based on a mock trial of Japan's wartime Emperor Hirohito. The changes were made following interventions by senior politicians, including the current prime mini

Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton has taken the first step towards running for the US presidency in 2008. Sen Clinton, 59, wife of former President Bill Clinton, announced on her website: "I'm in to win." The former first lady has set up a presidential exploratory committee, testing the waters for a full bid. Her announcement comes days after African-American Democratic Senator Barack Obama said

Water enters the body when we drink and is removed primarily in the urine and sweat. The amount of water in the body is regulated to control the levels of certain compounds, such as salt, in the blood. If you drink too much water, eventually the kidneys will not be able to work fast enough to remove sufficient amounts from the body, so the blood becomes more dilute with low salt concentrations. "I

China will have 30 million more men of marriageable age than women by 2020, making it difficult for them to find wives, according to a national report. The gender imbalance could lead to social instability, the report by the State Population and Family Planning Commission warned. It found that around 118 boys were born to every 100 girls in 2005. A traditional preference for boys, in a country wit

Italian soldiers are still dying following exposure to depleted uranium in the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, their relatives say. Troops who served during the wars in the 1990s believe they have contracted cancer and other serious illnesses from extended exposure to the munitions. The US says it fired around 40,000 depleted uranium rounds during the Bosnian and Kosovo conflicts. A pressure group says

The United Nations and African Union have announced a new drive for peace in Sudan's troubled region of Darfur. Jan Eliasson, the UN special envoy to Darfur, is to travel to the region to try to stop fighting between rebel groups and the Sudanese government. The UN wants to strengthen peacekeeping troops but there is conflict with Sudan over the number of UN soldiers to be deployed there. At least

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani is on a two-day trip to China. His visit comes after the UN Security Council imposed restrictions on Iran's trade in nuclear materials and technology. The restrictions are designed to pressure Tehran to halt work on its nuclear programme. Mr Larijani is believed to be carrying a message from the Iranian leader, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, for Chinese President H

Fiji's army chief Frank Bainimarama says he has given executive authority back to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo. Cmdr Bainimarama took over as president last month at the same time as he deposed PM Laisenia Qarase in a coup. The reinstated president will now appoint an interim government, set to be dominated by the military, which will remain in power until elections. Mr Qarase, however, has not be

Fighting between rival Palestinian groups has risen in recent weeks The US administration has hailed a call by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for fresh elections, expressing hope it could help end violence in the region. But the Islamic group Hamas, which won the latest Palestinian elections, rejected the move as a "coup attempt". Mr Abbas's call sparked more clashes between Hamas and his Fatah

Kofi Annan has delivered his final speech as United Nations Secretary General at the Truman Presidential Museum and Library in Independence, Missouri. The following is the text of the speech; subheadings inserted by the BBC. Thank you, Senator [Hagel] for that wonderful introduction. It is a great honour to be introduced by such a distinguished legislator. And thanks to you, Mr Devine, and all you