Russia has announced plans to sell minority stakes in 11 state-run firms which it says could raise about one trillion roubles ($30bn; £19.2bn).

Bashar al-Assad, Syria's president, will accompany Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to Beirut for a summit aimed at easing tensions in Lebanon, the Lebanese presidency has confirmed.

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday received a letter from US President Barack Obama

Personal details of 100m Facebook users have been collected and published on the net by a security consultant.

Andres Iniesta struck a dramatic winner late in extra time to give Spain World Cup glory for the first time but condemned the Netherlands to their third defeat in a final.

Rising waters from flooding in northeastern China hit a chemical plant and washed thousands of containers filled with explosive chemicals into a river, state media said Thursday.