| Casualties rise in Gaza offensive |
| Casualties pour into packed hospitals in Gaza as Israel continues its offensive, losing three soldiers overnight. |
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| Obama says US economy 'very sick' |
| US President-elect Barack Obama says that America's economy is very sick and that the situation is worsening. |
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| Apple's Jobs admits poor health |
| Steve Jobs, head of Apple, has disclosed in a statement that he is being treated for a hormone imbalance. |
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| French TV ditches prime-time ads |
| State-run French TV stations stop showing ads in prime time as part of President Sarkozy's plans to reform public broadcasting. |
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| Minnesota recount confirms winner |
| A recount in the US state of Minnesota confirms its Senate seat was won by a Democrat but the result is still contested. |
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| Dozens die in Guatemala landslide |
| At least 33 people die and dozens more are missing after part of a mountain collapses on to a road in northern Guatemala. |
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| Russia to cut Ukraine gas supply |
| Russia's Vladimir Putin tells Gazprom to reduce gas sent via Ukraine to Europe over allegations Kiev is siphoning some off. |
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| DR Congo rebels 'oust Gen Nkunda' |
| Officers in eastern DR Congo's main rebel group say they have ousted leader Gen Laurent Nkunda - a claim he denies. |
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| Congress launches Madoff inquiry |
| The US Congress begins an inquiry into a suspected $50bn (£32bn) fraud allegedly run by the American hedge fund manager, Bernard Madoff. |
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| A pink iguana missed by Darwin prompts evolutionary rethink |
| A type of iguana missed by Darwin during his Galapagos trip promises to rewrite the animal's history in the islands.
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| German child sweethearts try to elope for sunny African wedding |
| Two German children aged six and five are stopped by police on their way to Africa for a secret "wedding" in the sun. |
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| Blackburn edge Cup battlers Blyth |
| Carlos Villanueva's goal earns Blackburn victory over non-league Blyth Spartans in the FA Cup. |
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| Spurs and Pompey differ on Defoe |
| Tottenham and Portsmouth are thought to be about £1.5m apart in their valuations of Pompey striker Jermain Defoe. |
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| Year of change? |
| Mugabe's exit and other forecasts for Africa in 2009 |
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| Missing the driver |
| Concern for Steve Jobs amid the Macworld buzz |
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| Reynolds' China |
| Awake or asleep? Second picture shows difference |
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| Captured 'capital' |
| Inside the ruined remains of the Tamil Tiger HQ |
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| No comment |
| Why Obama has stayed silent over the Gaza crisis |
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| Webb's America |
| My son's illness and the stark realities of US healthcare |
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| Crisis talks for Kenya coalition |
| Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga holds crisis talks with his party leaders amid complaints he is being sidelined by the president.
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| SA 2010 official gunned down |
| A South African 2010 World Cup official who blew the whistle on alleged corruption is shot dead. |
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| Obama 'has selected spying chief' |
| US President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to head the CIA, US media report. |
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| New US embassy opens in Baghdad |
| The new US embassy in Baghdad - one of the largest and most expensive ever built - is officially opened Iraq's capital. |
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| Asian shares start 2009 strongly |
| Stock markets in Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong have a strong start to 2009 on hopes of fresh stimulus packages.
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| China to 'clean up' the internet |
| China launches a fresh campaign to get rid of unhealthy, vulgar and pornographic content on the internet. |
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| Guns 'link several Greek attacks' |
| Greek police say a weapon that left a shot policeman in critical condition is linked to an anti-US militant group. |
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| Czechs take over leadership of EU |
| The Czech Republic takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union, amid doubts over its commitment. |
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| Tehran offers to 'protect' Ebadi |
| Iran says it will provide security for Nobel Peace Prize-winning lawyer Shirin Ebadi, amid global concern for her safety. |
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| Baghdad bomb kills Shia pilgrims |
| A female suicide bomber kills at least 35 Shia pilgrims including Iranians near a shrine in Baghdad, Iraqi police say. |
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| Army closes in on key Jaffna pass |
| Sri Lankan troops are at the southern outskirts of a key rebel-held pass to the northern Jaffna peninsula, the military says. |
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| Mumbai evidence given to Pakistan |
| India says it has handed over to Islamabad evidence that links the Mumbai attacks to "elements" in Pakistan. |
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| Afghanistan's continuing misery |
| More than seven years of Western aid has failed to make a real impact on daily life in Afghanistan, the BBC's Hugh Sykes reports.
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| What Cubans brought to Miami |
| The son of Cuban exiles living in the US, the BBC's Americas editor Emilio San Pedro talks about growing up in a proud immigrant community. |
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| Send your video, pictures and story ideas |
| Have you got a good story? BBC News wants to hear from you. |
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