BBC World Service

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The latest stories from the World section of the BBC News web site.
Updated: 1 hour 10 min ago

VIDEO: First halal food fair for Sarajevo

May 24, 2013 - 12:01pm
Food lovers and businessmen attend Sarajevo's first ever halal food fair, set up in response to a rise in demand for halal food products in the wider Balkans region and beyond in recent years.

Embattled Toronto mayor fires aide

May 24, 2013 - 11:57am
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford sacks his chief of staff Mark Towhey as he fights claims he has been caught smoking crack cocaine on camera.

How to speak Franglais

May 24, 2013 - 11:54am
Bonjour, mes amis antiques, let's parler Franglais

VIDEO: Chinese farmer creates 'bionic arms'

May 24, 2013 - 11:53am
A Chinese farmer who lost his hands in an accident is turning his misfortune into a family business with home-made 'bionic arms' that he now sells to other amputees.

Plane 'fire' closes Heathrow runways

May 24, 2013 - 11:41am
British Airways cancels its short-haul flights to and from Heathrow after one of its planes makes an emergency landing.

News Corp to split in two on 28 June

May 24, 2013 - 11:21am
News Corp announces it will officially split its publishing and entertainment businesses on 28 June, two years after the UK phone-hacking scandal involving the News of the World.

Gibraltar given full Uefa membership

May 24, 2013 - 10:57am
Gibraltar is accepted as a full member of Uefa after a vote at the European football confederation's congress.

Tension over Sri Lanka Jaffna land

May 24, 2013 - 10:31am
Tensions escalate in northern Sri Lanka as Tamil people try to prevent the Sinhalese-dominated army from taking over their land.

Turkey to restrict alcohol sales

May 24, 2013 - 9:58am
The Turkish parliament approves controversial legislation to restrict the sale and advertising of alcohol.

'Tanzanian shot' in gas crackdown

May 24, 2013 - 9:54am
A pregnant woman has been shot dead in Tanzania during a security operation after gas protests in Mtwara, a journalist in the southern town tells the BBC.

UN hails 'historic' Obama drone vow

May 24, 2013 - 9:11am
The lawyer leading the UN's inquiry into drones welcomes President Obama's speech as a "significant step towards increased transparency".

Robson to face Wozniacki in Paris

May 24, 2013 - 8:53am
British number one Laura Robson faces former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the French Open first round.

'Hard decisions' needed for peace

May 24, 2013 - 8:46am
US Secretary of State John Kerry says "hard decisions" will be needed for peace after two days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Giro stage cancelled because of snow

May 24, 2013 - 8:43am
Friday's 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia is cancelled because of heavy snow and Saturday's stage 20 is re-routed.

Benefit fraud talent show mum jailed

May 24, 2013 - 8:34am
A mother of eight is jailed for four years for fraudulently claiming more than £350,000 in benefits and tax credits.

Lesbian drama is Cannes favourite

May 24, 2013 - 8:01am
An intimate love story between two young women receives rave reviews in Cannes days before the winner of the Palme d'Or is announced.

N Korea envoy meets China president

May 24, 2013 - 7:58am
A North Korean envoy visiting China meets President Xi Jinping and hands him a letter written by Kim Jong-un, state media reports.

BBC abandons £100m digital project

May 24, 2013 - 7:51am
The BBC is to close its Digital Media Initiative, with director general Tony Hall saying it had "wasted a huge amount of licence fee payers' money".

Obama defends 'just' drones war

May 24, 2013 - 7:44am
President Obama defends the use of drones as a "just war" of self-defence against deadly militants, and a campaign that has made America safer.

Amazon reveals fan fiction platform

May 24, 2013 - 7:41am
Fan fiction authors will be able to publish and sell some titles in the US via new e-book platform Kindle Worlds.