A British man is arrested by police in Costa Rica in connection with the murder of a young Czech woman.

An advisory body to the Arab League calls for the organisation's monitors to be withdrawn from Syria because of the continuing crackdown on protests.

World stock markets finish one of the most dramatic years for the global economy, with most well down for the year.

Plans to make it a criminal offence for council tenants to sublet their homes are to be unveiled by the government.

In his new year message, the Archbishop of Canterbury urges the public not to give up on young people despite the "horrific" scenes of the summer riots.

Most people questioned in all but three of 21 countries say their country's Olympics performance is important to national pride, a BBC poll finds.

Olympics organisers are to set up a dedicated intelligence unit to target betting syndicates at the London 2012 Games.

European leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, warn of more hardship and sacrifices in 2012 as the eurozone wrestles with a debt crisis.