Longer-term fears over production worries and a near-term focus on tight supplies drove the price of crude to a record high today

Rival Lebanese factions agree to resolve 18-month political crisis that pushed country to edge of new civil war

Moral campaign ahead of 2009 election threatens 're-Talibanisation'

Beijing announces a 70bn yuan (£5.1bn) reconstruction fund for Sichuan province

The Pakistani government has agreed to withdraw troops and introduce Sharia law in the conflict-ravaged Swat valley in exchange for a halt to Taliban suicide bombings and attacks on government buildings

Combined cost of write downs made by country's six biggest banks is almost £5bn - three times the amount estimated six months ago

Talks between Israel and Syria are welcome, but suspicions remain over what they will achieve, says David Hearst

The rocketing price of a barrel of oil has prompted American Airlines to make swingeing cuts to its aircraft fleet, workforce and timetable

Leader: There are many reasons why the peace talks between Israel and Syria could fail

Koirala made this call during a meeting of three main parties - Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoists), Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (UML) - at his official residence in the capital, Kathmandu on the day.

Baitullah Mehsud, Taliban commander that is said to be governing in South Waziristan, said the army has been responsible for the recent civilian attacks.

The furious protesters clashed with security forces in Naples last night after the Italian government decided to force rubbish dumps to open against the wishes of local residents.

A couple in the Bavarian district of Unterallgaeu was trying to sell their baby for one euro ($1.55) on the Internet auction site.

Some 2,000 people fleeing violence against foreigners in Cape Town boarded a special train on Saturday to take them to Johannesburg, from where they will join their compatriots from across the country hoping to be evacuated from South Africa.

CHICAGO (AFP) - Texas childcare authorities late Friday appealed a state court's decision to reverse their removal of hundreds of children from a polygamist sect, arguing that returning them would be irresponsible.

BERLIN (AFP) - While economists quibble, the world's richest man has decided: the United States is already in recession. So Warren Buffett tells German magazine Der Spiegel in an interview to be published on Monday.

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi troops have dismantled Al-Qaeda's network in the northern city of Mosul, regarded by the US as the last urban bastion of the jihadists, the interior ministry said on Saturday.

Opposition head vows to expel US-backed Ethiopian troops by force, and says government is led by 'traitors'

Victor Keegan: One big obstacle to progress is the conservatism of current producers

David McKie: F Scott Fitzgerald and co produce great literature, but titles are often best left to publishers