Mohammed Morsi faces Egypt terrorism charges

Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi is to stand trial on charges including conspiring with foreign organisations to commit terrorist acts.

Prosecutors said Mr Morsi had formed an alliance with the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Thirty-five others, including former aides and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood,

Russia deal saved Ukraine from bankruptcy - PM Azarov

Ukraine's decision to suspend a deal on closer EU ties and sign a Russian aid agreement instead has helped avoid bankruptcy, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has told ministers in Kiev.

The government's surprise U-turn on an EU association agreement last month has sparked weeks of mass demonstrations.

Turkey PM Erdogan condemns 'dirty' corruption probe

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced a corruption inquiry as a "dirty operation" against his government.

Some 52 people - including three sons of cabinet ministers - were arrested in dawn raids on Tuesday in connection with a high-profile bribery inquiry.

Five police chiefs who oversaw raids in Istanbul and Ankara were sacked for "abuse of office", Mr Erdogan said.

Ukraine gets major economic assistance offer from Russia

Russia has given Ukraine a discount of almost a third on Russian gas and said it would buy billions of dollars' worth of Ukrainian government bonds.

The moves come amid Russian attempts to stop Ukraine moving towards the EU.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych

Italy probes treatment of Lampedusa migrants 'forced to strip'

Italy has launched an inquiry into the treatment of migrants at a reception centre on the island of Lampedusa.

Footage filmed secretly on a mobile phone appears to show detainees being forced to strip naked in mixed company while a worker hoses them down.

The man who took the video - an unnamed Syrian refugee - says the migrants are being treated like

S Africa investigates 'fake signer' security checks

South Africa's deputy disability minister says the government is investigating how a man who faked sign language at the Mandela memorial was given security clearance.

Thamsanqa Dyantyi, who stood alongside national and international leaders at the event, has blamed his actions on a schizophrenic episode.

Pope Francis named Time Magazine's Person of the Year

Pope Francis has been named Person of the Year by Time magazine.

During his nine months in office, the Pope had pulled "the papacy out of the palace and into the streets", managing editor Nancy Gibbs said.

"Rarely has a new player on the world stage captured so much attention so