A thousand people dressed as Vikings have celebrated Shetland's spectacular annual Up Helly Aa fire festival.

The BBC's Jonathan Head reports on why the Thai government's controversial rice purchase scheme has left some farmers struggling to make ends meet.

Police in Togo say they have arrested three men after finding nearly two tons of ivory in a container destined for Vietnam.

Congress in Nicaragua approves constitutional changes that would allow President Daniel Ortega to run for a third successive term in 2016.

Ukraine's parliament is due to debate an amnesty for scores of detained protesters, a day after the prime minister and cabinet resigned.

PM Tony Abbott criticises ABC's reporting on asylum and spying claims, calling the public broadcaster on "everyone's side but Australia's".

The daughter of a Hong Kong tycoon urges her father in an open letter to accept she is a lesbian, after he offered millions to find her a husband.

One month on from a skiing accident in the Alps, Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is being kept in a medically-induced coma, his manager has told the BBC.