BBC News - World The latest stories from the World section of the BBC News web site.
Syria artillery onslaught on Homs The fiercest attack yet - involving heavy artillery - rocks the Syrian city of Homs, as the US closes its Damascus embassy over security concerns.
Abbas to head interim government Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas says he will head a unity government between Hamas and Fatah ahead of elections in the West Bank and Gaza.
Blasts rock north Nigeria cities A police station in the northern Nigerian city of Kano and a market in Maiduguri to the west are rocked by explosions.
Obama: 'I deserve a second term' President Barack Obama tells a US network that he deserves a second term in the White House, as a poll puts his approval rating above 50%.
Romania spy chief 'to be new PM' Romania's intelligence service chief Mihai Razvan Ungureanu is nominated as prime minister after Emil Bloc resigns amid widespread austerity protests.
Europe's big freeze tightens grip The Arctic conditions sweeping Europe tighten their grip, with more deaths reported in Poland and Ukraine, taking the toll to well over 200.
Deadly quake hits the Philippines At least 15 people die and 29 are missing after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake strikes islands in the central Philippines.
Deaths in Lahore factory collapse An illegal medicine factory collapses in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least nine people, including women and children, officials say.
US tightens Iran bank sanctions US President Barack Obama places new sanctions on Iran, blocking government assets held in the US, including the Iranian Central Bank.
Mars cooperation near collapse US space agency officials let their European counterparts know that it is now highly unlikely that America will participate in joint missions to the Red Planet in 2016 and 2018.
