BBC World News

BBC News - World
The latest stories from the World section of the BBC News web site.

• Syria troops step up Homs bombing
  Heavy artillery fire rocks the restive Syrian city of Homs, in what anti-government activists are calling one of the fiercest assaults yet.
• Abbas to head interim government
  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he will head an interim unity government to prepare for elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
• Romanian PM resigns over protests
  Romania's Prime Minister Emil Boc steps down to "defuse political and social tension" after a series of austerity protests.
• Many trapped in Lahore collapse
  A factory building collapses in the Pakistani city of Lahore with many people, including women and children, feared trapped.
• Delay in Greece bailout meeting
  Talks in Greece to try to agree new austerity measures needed to secure bailout funds and avoid defaulting on its debts are delayed.
• China in EU carbon scheme 'ban'
  China tells its airlines not to pay charges to the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme, aimed at cutting carbon emissions.
• Woman runs for Mexico presidency
  Mexico's governing conservative party selects its first woman candidate to run in the country's presidential election.
• China stresses Tibet stability
  The Tibetan regional government warns its officials to maintain stability in the area or face dismissal or criminal charges ahead of the Tibetan new year.
• US and Israel 'in unison' on Iran
  The US is working closely with Israel to use diplomacy to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, President Barack Obama says.
• More floods threaten Queensland
  Floods continue to threaten Queensland in eastern Australia, with 3,000 evacuated and the town of St George expecting to be worst affected.