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Global war on drugs has 'failed' say former leaders
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The global war on drugs has "failed" according to a new report by group of politicians and former world leaders.
The Global Commission on Drug Policy report calls for the legalisation of some drugs and an end to the criminalisation of drug users.
The panel includes former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the former leaders of Mexico, Colombia and Brazil, and the entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.
The White House rejected the findings, saying the report was misguided.
The 19-member commission includes the former US Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, the former President of Colombia Cesar Gaviria, and the current Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou.
The panel also features prominent Latin American writers Carlos Fuentes and Mario Vargas Llosa, the EU's former foreign policy chief Javier Solana, and George Schultz, the former US Secretary of State.
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Asylum seekers 'granted amnesty' by UK Border Agency
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So many asylum seekers have been given leave to remain in the UK that it "amounts to an amnesty", MPs have said.
Out of 403,500 cases dealt with by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), just 9% resulted in removal while 40% - 161,000 - of applicants were allowed to stay.
The Home Affairs Committee also said it was "indefensible" that in one in six cases, the UKBA simply had "no idea" what had happened to the applicant.
Immigration Minister Damian Green said there was "absolutely no amnesty".
He said the government had "eliminated" a backlog of 450,000 asylum cases - the scale of which first emerged in 2006.
At the time, the then home secretary John - now Lord - Reid promised to clear it, and the UKBA's deadline for the completion of that task was this summer.
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Nigeria attacks claimed by Islamist sect Boko Haram
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Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram has told the BBC it carried out the series of bombings after President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration on Sunday.
The worst incident was at an army barracks in the northern city of Bauchi in which at least 14 people died.
A sect spokesman said it was also responsible for killing the brother of the Shehu of Borno, one of Nigeria's most important Islamic leaders.
The sect has been behind numerous recent assassinations in Borno state.
It is opposed to Western education and accuses Nigeria's government of being corrupted by Western ideas.
Clashes in Borno's state capital, Maiduguri, between the Boko Haram and the police in July 2009 left hundreds of people dead, mainly members of the sect.
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Egypt: Trial date set for Hosni Mubarak and two sons
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A court in Egypt has set a date for the trial of former President Hosni Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal.
They will appear at a criminal court in Cairo on 3 August, charged with corruption and the premeditated murder of protesters during the uprising which toppled Mr Mubarak on 11 February.
If found guilty of the second charge, they could face the death penalty.
A powerful business associate of the Mubaraks, Hussein Salem, will be tried alongside them on the same charges.
On Tuesday, a government-appointed panel of doctors told prosecutors that Hosni Mubarak was too ill to be imprisoned while awaiting trial.
They found the 83-year-old was at risk of a sudden heart attack, was too sick to get out of bed without help, and was suffering from depression.
He has been held in custody at a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh since being taken ill during questioning on 13 April.
His wife, Suzanne, was released on bail last month after she returned assets to the state. She is suspected of corruption.
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US man held for 'Thai monarchy insult' appeals to Obama
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An American man, arrested in Thailand last week on charges of insulting the monarchy, has appealed to US President Barack Obama for help.
The man, who uses his American name Joe Gordon, is accused of posting a link on a blog to a royal biography that is banned in Thailand.
Lese Majeste is a serious offence here, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The United States embassy in Bangkok says it is providing all proper consular assistance to the man.
The man, who Thai police say holds dual Thai and American nationality, was interviewed inside Bangkok's remand prison by a campaigning news website.
Mr Gordon says he had no intention of getting involved in politics and merely showed others in the United States how to create a blog.
"I want President Obama and Hillary Clinton to intervene on on my behalf," he is quoted as saying.
The manager of the website which conducted the interview, Chiranuch Premchaiporn, is herself on trial facing charges of lese majeste after failing to remove quickly enough blog posts deemed to be offensive to the monarchy.
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'Baby-leopard smuggler' flees Thailand
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A man arrested last month at an airport in Thailand with a collection of baby animals in his luggage has fled the country while on bail.
Noor Mahmood, 36, from the United Arab Emirates, was arrested with leopard cubs, a monkey and a bear in his bags at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport.
But he failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance.
Immigration police confirmed he had left Thailand but refused to give details of his whereabouts.
The wildlife campaign group Freeland, which assisted police in the undercover operation that led to Mr Mahmood's arrest, expressed concern at the news.
"Since he was caught red-handed and charged, we want to know why he is not being prosecuted," said Freeland director Steven Galster said.
The four leopard cubs, bear cub, gibbon and marmoset are now being cared for by Thailand's wildlife department and are reported to be in good health.
The animals - all under two months old - had been drugged and put into cages in the man's suitcases, police said.
Mr Mahmood had been trying to board a flight to Dubai when he was detained.
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Bolivia apologises to Argentina for Iran minister visit
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Bolivia has apologised to neighbouring Argentina for inviting Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi for a visit.
General Vahidi is wanted by Argentina for allegedly masterminding the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.
Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca wrote to his Argentine counterpart, saying Mr Vahidi would be leaving immediately.
Iran has long denied any involvement in the bombing.
On Tuesday, Gen Vahidi attended a military ceremony in the city of Santa Cruz, in the presence of Bolivian President Evo Morales.
The Argentine authorities reacted immediately to news of Gen Vahidi's visit, notifying Bolivian officials that they had sought his arrest since 2007.
Guillermo Borger, head of the Amia, the Jewish association whose building was destroyed in 1994, called Gen Vahidi's presence a "provocation".
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Pakistan's ISI denies involvement in reporter's murder
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Azhar Abbas, Saleem Shahzad's friend and fellow journalist, said reporters in Pakistan would not be silenced
The Pakistani intelligence service has made a rare public statement to deny any involvement in the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad.
His body was found on Tuesday, two days after he went missing.
Mr Shazad's funeral took place on Wednesday in the city of Karachi.
The 40-year-old father of three vanished after leaving home in Islamabad to appear on a television talk show.
He had recently written an article about al-Qaeda infiltration into Pakistan's navy.
Mr Shahzad made a career writing about the various Islamist militant networks operating in Pakistan and is reported to have warned human rights campaigners before his disappearance that he had been threatened by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) - prompting speculation the spy agency may have been involved in his death.
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A rare white kiwi chick is seen in an outdoor enclosure in the forest reserve at the National Wildlife Centre on June 1, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. The all-white kiwi, named 'Manukura' is suspected to be the first white chick born in captivity. The chick is the thirteenth of fourteen baby kiwis hatched at the wildlife centre this season
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Claudia Gaviria, 28, who claims to be possessed by spirits, attends a ritual of exorcism, on June 1, 2011, in La Cumbre, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia. Hermes Cifuentes, or "Brother Hermes", as he calls himself, has been performing exorcism rituals during the last 20 years. Over 10 people consult him each week to practice rituals of healing and exorcism.
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Claudia Gaviria, 28, who claims to be possessed by spirits, attends a ritual of exorcism, on June 1, 2011, in La Cumbre, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia
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Syrian children carry pictures of 13-year-old Hamza al-Khatib and hold candles during a protest in front of the United Nations building in Beirut on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. The Syrian boy, who activists say was tortured and killed by security forces, has emerged as a powerful symbol in protests against the rule of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad which have been met with a bloody crackdown.
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Relatives of Denny Martinez, a 25-year-old woman who was killed in the bus crash Tuesday that claimed four lives, talk on cell phones at the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Richmond, Va. From right: Eladia Ferreras (the mother of Denny Martinez); Wendy Ferreras, with hands on forehead (a cousin of Denny Martinez); and on far left is Ramona Estavez Ferreras (aunt of Denny Martinez). The family members are from Greensboro, NC. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shut down Sky Express, Inc., based in Charlotte, NC, and began an investigation of the fatal crash which occurred in Caroline County, Va. on Interstate 95.
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A man talks on his phone near storm damage after a reported tornado struck downtown Springfield, Mass., Wednesday, June 1. An apparent tornado struck downtown Springfield, one of Massachusetts' largest cities, scattering debris, toppling trees, and frightening workers and residents.
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Workers engaged in operations to stabilize the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant take a rest on the floor of a gymnasium inside the grounds of the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant, about 10km away from the crippled Daiichi plant in Fukushima prefecture, northern Japan, in this photo taken May 7 and released June 2 by industrial medical doctor Takeshi Tanigawa, who examined the workers.
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Ehime University professor Takeshi Tanigawa had visited the workers twice since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that triggered a series of meltdowns at the plant. He warned that there was an increased risk of accidents because the workers had suffered from chronic sleep deprevation and fatigue
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A man with a tattoo at a market in downtown Bangkok on March 9. On June 2, Thailand ordered a crackdown on foreign tourists having religious images tattooed on their bodies while visiting the kingdom, official media said.
Thailand's Culture Ministry says foreign tourists should be barred from getting Buddhist tattoos while visiting because the practice is culturally insensitive.
"Foreigners see these tattoos as a fashion," Niphit said in the statement posted on his ministry's website Thursday. "They do not think of respecting religion, or they may not be aware" that it can be offensive.
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A boy walks toward a water point to collect water for his family, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan on June 2. The U.S. should hold back much of its $7.5 billion aid package to Pakistan until it reforms dysfunctional policies related to energy, taxes and other areas, according to a new report that criticizes the American aid program's focus in a country beset by corruption, poverty and militancy.
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Thai customs officials found 451 turtles and seven freshwater crocodiles stashed in suitcases offloaded from a passenger flight from Bangladesh.
The animals seized at Bangkok's bustling Suvarnabhumi airport were worth 1 million baht ($33,000), authorities said.
The alleged trafficker, a Bangladeshi national, did not collect the luggage and fled on arrival in Bangkok, customs officials said
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Benghazi, Libya: Rebels douse burnt-out cars following an explosion in the parking lot of the Tibesti hotel, used by rebel leaders, diplomats and journalists
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Srinagar, India: A Kashmiri boatman transports tourists on Dal Lake
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New York: A woman cools off in the shade on a hot day
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Playa del Carmen, Mexico: Handlers carry Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) in Xcaret ecological park. The park has entered the Guinness World Records for having the biggest number of endangered macaws born in captivity in the same place over one year
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Ajmer, India: A Sufi Kalandar (wandering ascetic) performs an act of self-torture during devotion at the annual Urs (death anniversary) of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
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Podvrh, Slovenia: A bear cub adopted by a local family plays with their dog
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La Cumbre, Colombia: An exorcist performs a ritual on a woman who claims to be possessed by spirits
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Montevideo, Uruguay: The Palacio Salvo building on a foggy day
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Nazaré, Portugal: Salted fish are put out to dry on a beach
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Bangkok , Thailand: A customs officer shows a seized false gavial (Tomistoma schlegeli) during a news conference after they seized smuggled animals at Suvarnabhumi airport
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Craft masters 2011
The UK's craft sector employs an estimated 90,000 people in 11,000 small businesses. The Balvenie Masters of Craft is a new awards programme honouring the most highly skilled people in that sector. Here are this year's category winners and the inaugural Master of Craft
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Wood winner and overall Balvenie Master of Craft 2011: Christoph Gotting, violin maker
Christoph makes violins by hand from a converted granary in Michelmersh near Romsey in Hampshire. There are millions of machine-made violins around the world, but top musicians normally insist on 18th-century classic violins made by the likes of Stradivarius. Christoph has spent the last 21 years persuading them that modern handmade instruments are just as good, and there are now more than 70 Gotting instruments owned by professionals all over the world. With one highly skilled assistant, Christoph only produces up to 10 violins a year – each taking an average of 140 hours to handcraft
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Young master of craft: Emily Ruth Davey, shoemaker
Ruth operates a shoemaking business from her workshop on the mid-Wales coast. She says her customers range from dukes to dustbin men, from young to old, yoga teachers, artists, poets, doctors and even the odd film star. Testament to her success is her current search for an apprentice
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Glass and ceramics winner: Stuart Hearn, glass blower
Stewart has been blowing glass for 28 years and runs London Glassworks. While his pieces celebrate traditional craft, they also have a strong contemporary aesthetic. Stuart is passionate about passing on skills and provides regular training and workshops
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Textiles winner: Iain Finlay McLeod, weaver
Iain is the fourth-generation weaver in his family. On the Isle of Lewis, he and his team of five weavers create high-quality cloth on traditional looms over 70 years old. They sell their cloth to some of the best tailors and fashion houses in Tokyo, London and Beverley Hills
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Stone winner: Jacqueline Cullen, jeweller
Jacqueline is a jeweller working with Whitby jet. Specialising in Victorian mourning jewellery, Jacqueline has developed innovative processes and formats that celebrate rather than disguise the inherent flaws of Whitby jet, allowing the natural beauty of the material to speak for itself
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Leather winner: Deborah Carre, shoemaker
Deborah is a hand-sewn shoemaker. She is currently building a business that focuses on making bespoke men’s shoes by hand and has a new workshop on the shop floor at Gieves & Hawkes, 1 Savile Row, London
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Metal winner: Wayne Victor Meeten, precious metalworker
Wayne is a silversmith, goldsmith and precious metalworker, who aims to push the boundaries of traditional smithing by using 21st century technology. His designs are contemporary with wonderful form, line, texture and structure
