Big government back as Obama pledges US lead

President-elect sets out the case for an economic policy that heralds a return of big-spending government intervention

Anti-government editor shot dead in Sri Lanka

Lasantha Wickrematunga, whose newspaper had exposed government corruption, was shot in chest, head and abdomen

America: free-market pioneers

The arrival of Barack Obama has opened a new era of big government - a spending spree already facing opposition

Doctor in Britain loses 16 relatives in Gaza

'I feel so helpless because there's nothing I can do for them. The border is closed, I can't go there'

Operation Cast Lead: Day Thirteen

Pope's visit to the Holy Land in doubt after a cardinal said the people of Gaza were living in a concentration camp

Obama launches $60bn a year health care plan

More than 46m Americans are without health insurance and the US ranks last among 19 industrialised nations in health care

Why India must be patient with Pakistan

It is easy for India to criticise; the harder question is how to help its neighbour shut the door on radicalism

US to support resolution on Gaza ceasefire

Condoleezza Rice signed the draft Security Council resolution after Britain brokered a deal with Arab nations

Hezbollah denies rocket attack from Lebanon

The firing of weapons across Israel's northern border was not unexpected, but it is unlikely to mean a new confrontation

First Person: the 'internal enemy’ in Sri Lanka

In 2008, Keith Noyahr was driving home from work when he was dragged from his car and subjected to a six-hour assault

Barack Obama ice cream? Yes! Pecan

President-elect merchandising industry goes into overdrive

Behind the story: Bitter experience of cold

It is minus 30C and the local heating system has gone on the blink in the Russian city of Ulan-Ude, a common occurrence

Madoff prepared $173m cheques for associates

Prosecutors found signed cheques ready to send to friends, family and co-workers in alleged fraudster’s office

25 faces to watch in 2009

Obama reveals massive economic rescue package

President-elect says he will 'save or create' three million jobs and hand 95 per cent of working families a $1,000 tax cut

Russia pledges to end Europe gas war

Chief executive of Gazprom says gas company will turn on taps again once EU monitors verify no 'theft' by Ukraine

UN aid agency suspends work after Gaza strike

UNWRA halts operations in protest after two drivers are killed during ceasefire as Red Cross discovers 'house of horrors'

Starving children in Gaza house of horrors

Israel of breaching humanitarian law after Red Cross discovers Palestinian dead and wounded abandoned in bombed homes

Outrage over Jewish-owned shops boycott

Jewish leaders compare Italian trade union's boycott call to anti-Semitic laws under wartime dictator Benito Mussolini

'Concentration camp' row threatens Pope visit

Pope Benedict's planned trip to Israel could be derailed after cardinal compared Gaza to "big concentration camp"