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Opposition protestors have besieged Thailand's main government compound to demand the resignation of Prime Mininster Samak Sundaravej. The protests against the government, which they believe acts on behalf of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, have been ongoing since May. Authorities are scrambling to find a peaceful end to the stand-off.

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Tensions are high in Europe, after Russia formally recognized the independence of the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on Tuesday. European leaders plan to meet next week to discuss what next.

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Afghanistan's security crisis is seeing increasing numbers of people fleeing the country. Many of them are little more than children and end up sleeping rough in Paris, hoping for a chance of a brighter future.

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Hillary Clinton Tuesday ordered her grieving supporters to unite behind Democratic nominee Barack Obama, in an emotional final act to a White House quest which fell just short of history."Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose," said Clinton, who got a euphoric welcome for her prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention.

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A group of software developers in the UK are promoting a new kind of video game designed to help in real-life situations. They're called 'serious games' and train people to deal with adverse situations such as medical emergencies. Refile.

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Madonna wowed fans in the French city of Nice on Tuesday night as part of her "Sticky And Sweet" world tour. The two-hour extravaganza of hits and high fashion showed why she is still the queen of pop despite recently turning 50.

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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday he had signed a decree under which Russia formally recognises South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. While the international community widely condemned Russia's move, Georgia's National Security Council was to hold an emergency session on the issue.

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A week after fierce fighting with Taliban insurgents killed 10 of their comrades in Afghanistan, French troops are once again patrolling the streets.

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Bagdhad is regaining some of its past glory, as celebrated statues recover their prized positions on the city's streets. Some have been hidden away and others have been repaired.

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Rescuers say there is no hope of finding any of the eight climbers alive who were caught in a giant avalanche in the French Alps triggered by a block of glacier ice which broke free.

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As a fashion photographer, Richard Avedon captured the essence of glamorous stars and world celebrities like no other. But the US photography legend also breathed life into ordinary people. The late artist's career of 60 years, on show in a retrospective in Paris until the end of September.

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Environmental trainers are in growing demand across the United States as people try to adopt an ever greener lifestyle.

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Denver is gearing up to host the Democratic National Convention starting on Monday. Democrats will officially nominate Barack Obama as their candidate at one of the most anticipated national conventions in history.

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Less than a week after a bloody Taliban ambush that killed 10 French soldiers in Afghanistan, new watchwords for the troops are vigilance and intelligence, the top French general in the Afghan capital said Sunday. Images and soundbites.

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Around 40,000 people gathered on the Mall near Buckingham Palace in London on Sunday to celebrate 2012 host taking over from Beijing as the Olympic city. Images and soundbites.

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In Afghanistan, it¿s not just foreign troops who are under fire. Deteriorating security in capital Kabul, has led to a wave of civilian kidnappings by crime groups. It¿s not about politics, it¿s simply about money.

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The president of the IOC Jacques Rogge says the Beijing Olympics showcased fine sportsmanship, especially Russian and Georgian athletes embracing on the podium.

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Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama on Saturday officially announced that he has chosen Senator Joseph Biden as his vice presidential pick.

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In a move largely unnoticed amid the chaos of Georgia's conflict with Russia, South Ossetian rebel forces have seized areas once firmly under Georgian control and are vowing to stay.

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French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy met the Dalai Lama on Friday as the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader inaugurated a Buddhist temple in the south of France. Images.

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A bloody week of fighting between Taliban insurgents and French troops on the outskirts of Kabul has ordinary Afghans worried. While military leaders are trying to reassure citizens, many fear the insurgency is gaining strength.

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Britain is "utterly resolute" in supporting Afghanistan as it fights a Taliban-led insurgency and pursues democracy, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said during a lightning visit to Kabul on Thursday.

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Ten of thousands of Afghans are being denied access to desperately needed food as Taliban insurgents scale up their attacks and target supply trucks from aid groups. With inflation reaching record heights, the UN is warning of a major humanitarian catastrophe.

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Rohullan Nikpai gave Afghanistan its first ever Olympic Games medal when he won the taekwondo men's under 58kg bronze medal in Beijing. An AFPTV report.

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11 out of the 21 French NATO soldiers injured in the deadly Taliban ambush in Afghanistan earlier this week were flown back to France on Wednesday. Images and soundbites from Orly airport near Paris.

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Sign language for babies -- the trend to communicate even with those at a pre-verbal stage has spread to Poland, where one school helps toddlers and their parents to talk to one another.

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French President Nicolas Sarkozy flew into Kabul early on Wednesday in a show of support after 10 French soldiers were killed by the Taliban and 21 others wounded.

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A handful of Israel's Negev Bedouins cling to life in the open air but most are now town dwellers. Life for Bedouin women has also changed.

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Ten French NATO troops were killed and 21 injured on Monday and Tuesday in battles following a Taliban ambush near the Afghan capital Kabul.

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The recent conflict between Georgia and Russia has stirred national pride in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. Many are now keen to join the army and flag sales ore on the up.

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Celebrations erupted across the country, after Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation on Monday in the face of looming impeachment charges, ending a turbulent nine years in power for the key US ally.

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A trickle of supplies began arriving in Gori on Sunday, sparking scenes of desperation as people competed over boxes of rice and beans. Aid had been allowed through for the first time following the Russian bombardment of the Georgian city.

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It's thought that over 100,000 people have been displaced by the conflict between Russia and Georgia. For 270 people sheltering in a school building in the Georgian capital, help could not have come too soon.

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Great Britain's Rebecca Adlington shattered the longest-standing world record with a sensational all-the-way victory in the women's 800 metres freestyle for her second gold medal at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday. The 19-year-old freestyler lopped 2.12secs off American Janet Evans's 19-year world mark in a time of eight minutes 14.10 seconds. Evans had held the record at 8:16.22 since August 20, 1989 and was the only world record in the sport to have survived from the 1980s. Adlington's spectacular succes

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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a visit to the Georgian capital Tbilisi on Friday, criticised the Russians for not honouring their promises to halt military operations in Georgia. After Georgia signed a ceasefire agreement seeking to end its conflict with Russia, Rice called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops. Images and soundbites.

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Russian armoured personnel carriers have continued to advance into Georgian territory in spite of pledges to the contrary. During a visit to Tbilisi Friday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accused Russian President Dmitry Medvedev of having "not honoured" his promise to halt military operations in Georgia. Images and soundbites.

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For most people, Capoeira - an art which mixes fight, dance and music - is associated with Brazilian culture. But the origins of the discipline can actually be traced back to the west coast of Angola.

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Moscow's military might was on display around Gori on Thursday. Faced with formidable Russian firepower, Georgian forces pulled back to positions along the road leading into the town.

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Europe has swung towards recession, with the eurozone economy shrinking for the first time and inflation hovering at a record high as the sharp global downturn takes hold.