Final count confirms Sharif victory 

The final vote count from Pakistan's national elections has confirmed a big win for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party.

Three killed in Afghan market blast 

At least three people have been killed and seven others injured when a bomb hidden in a parked motorcycle exploded in a crowded bazaar in a remote region of southern Helmand province, an Afghan official has said.

Man sought over parade shootings 

US police have identified a 19-year-old as a suspect in the shooting of about 20 people during a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans, saying several people had identified him as the gunman captured on CCTV.

Obama 'has abandoned detainees' 

A Guantanamo Bay detainee said he feels abandoned by President Barack Obama and the world after more than 10 years at the US prison.

Video: Woman singing Whitney Houston song forces emergency landing - and is kicked off jet 

OJ Simpson in court bid for freedom 

A weary-looking OJ Simpson, weighed down by shackles and more than four years in prison, shuffled into a Las Vegas courtroom on Monday hoping eventually to walk out a free man.

Japan mayor: Sex slaves necessary 

The Japanese military's forced prostitution of Asian women before and during the Second Word War was necessary to "maintain discipline" in the ranks and provide rest for soldiers who risked their lives in battle, an outspoken politician has said.

Jolie praised after mastectomy move 

Angelina Jolie has been praised by health campaigners for helping raise awareness of breast cancer after revealing she under went a preventative double mastectomy to reduce her risk of developing the disease.

Space crew returns safely to Earth 

A Soyuz space capsule carrying a three-man crew returning from a five-month mission to the International Space Station has landed safely on the steppes of Kazakhstan.

Harry sees fall-out from Sandy 

Prince Harry has surveyed scenes of devastation in two New Jersey seaside towns that suffered the brunt of Superstorm Sandy.

Astronaut Chris Hadfield returns to Earth as five-month mission ends 

Astronaut Chris Hadfield has finally returned to Earth as his five-month mission as commander of the International Space Station ends.

Abortion doctor guilty over deaths 

A Philadelphia abortion doctor has been found guilty of first-degree murder and could face execution in the deaths of three babies who authorities say were delivered alive and then killed with scissors at his grimy clinic, in a case that became a flashpoint in America's debate over abortion.

Cameron 'dealt blow' after EU vote 

David Cameron was dealt a "devastating blow" when more than 100 Conservative MPs backed a vote criticising the Government's failure to bring forward plans to enshrine an EU referendum in law.

Landowner 'allowed pyramid work' 

The owner of a road-building company in Belize that has been blamed for the near destruction of one of the country's biggest Mayan pyramids has said the landowner gave permission to extract the material.

Video: Whitney Houston singer thrown off plane 

An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a woman on board refused to stop singing Whitney Houston’s hit song 'I Will Always Love You'.

Did US electronic engineer Shane Todd commit suicide – or was he murdered because he knew too many Chinese secrets? 

Shane Todd's body was found on 24 June 2012 by his girlfriend in his apartment in Singapore, hanging from a strap attached to a door.

Paris celebrations hit by violence 

Paris Saint-Germain's celebrations at ending their 19-year wait for the French league title were cut short following violent scenes in which supporters clashed with riot police.

Star man: Astronaut Chris Hadfield's 'Space Oddity' cover 

An astronaut has said goodbye to life on the International Space Station and possibly hello to a new career as a pop star by making an impressive cover version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity".

Car bomb kills 10 in eastern Libya 

At least 10 people have died after a car bomb exploded near a hospital in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi in one of the biggest attacks since the end of the civil war that ousted former dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

France may put tax on smartphones 

France is considering creating a new tax on smartphones and tablets in a bid to raise millions to support the creation of digital cultural content.