Pearls of Wisdom

Barack Obama pledges to "finish the job" in Afghanistan and says he will announce a decision on sending more US troops "shortly".

The UK "distanced itself" from talk of removing Saddam Hussein in early 2001 despite the threat he posed, the Iraq inquiry is told.

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi is to mediate between Algeria and Egypt in a bitter football row, state media says.

China executes two people over a scandal involving tainted milk powder that resulted in six children dying, state media say.

Pirates have attacked an oil tanker off West Africa, killing a Ukrainian seaman, the commander of Benin's naval forces says.

The Bank of England reveals it lent RBS and HBOS £61.6bn in emergency funding in October and November 2008.

Climate is a major driver of conflict across Africa, researchers say, with future warming likely to increase civil wars by 50% in 20 years.

An Indian report blames leading Hindu nationalist politicians for playing a role in the demolition in 1992 of the Ayodhya mosque.

Four people are killed in a civilian helicopter crash off the coast of northern Israel.

A German bank employee who transferred money illegally from rich to poor clients receives a suspended prison term.