Germany's new female rabbi sign of growing Jewish community

The BBC's Stephen Evans meets Alina Treiger

History is being made in Germany with the ordination of the first female rabbi since World War II. Alina Treiger came to Germany from Ukraine, as the BBC's Stephen Evans reports from Berlin.

Why would a Jew migrate to Germany? You would think the ghosts would be too powerful.

Can you trust a leader who cries?

By Olivia Lang, BBC News
Mr Boehner cried during his acceptance speech
Celebrating the Republican - and his own - victory, the incoming speaker of the US House of Representatives John Boehner's voice choked with emotion. "I spent my whole life chasing the American dream. I put myself through school… working every rotten job there was and every night shift I could find," he sobbed.

Sri Lanka to build park for romantic young lovers

By Charles Haviland, BBC News, Colombo
If you must do it, say the authorities, do it in the park

The Sri Lankan government says it will construct a park for romantic young couples who want freedom to be together without being victimised by police.

Rare Afghan gold collection to be displayed in UK

By Quentin Sommerville
BBC News, Kabul
This golden belt is one of the highlights of the hoard

The Afghan government and the UK have signed an agreement allowing a priceless gold collection to go on display at the British Museum.

The "Lost Treasures of Afghanistan" or Bactrian gold will be revealed to the British public next year.

BBC News - Iran holds four 'UK-linked men' for killings, Nov 04, 2010

Iran says it has arrested four men allegedly paid by a man based in Britain to carry out assassinations, an official state TV station reports.

Press TV said the four "Britain-linked terrorists" were detained in the western city of Marivan.

Haiti braced as Tropical Storm Tomas sweeps in

Refugees have been advised to leave the camps, but many have nowhere to go
Haiti has been placed on high alert as a powerful storm sweeps in, threatening thousands of earthquake survivors still living in camps.
Forecasters say Tropical Storm Tomas is gaining strength and will begin to lash Haiti by late Thursday, reaching full force by Friday.

Greek police explode 'bomb' addressed to French embassy

A controlled explosion was carried out and investigators searched the scene for evidence
Police in Athens have carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious package addressed to the French embassy.
A police spokesman told Reuters news agency it was an "explosive device".
Fourteen packages have been sent to ...

China's Hu Jintao to sign big deals on France visit

French officials say Hu Jintao will commit billions of euros to contracts

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to honour his Chinese counterpart with extravagant state events as he arrives to seal huge business deals.
Hu Jintao is expected to sign billions of euros-worth of contracts with Airbus and French firms including oil firm Total and nuclear engineer Areva.

Serb leader Tadic apologises for 1991 Vukovar massacre, Nov 04, 2010

President Boris Tadic arrived in Vukovar on a ferry which crossed the River Danube

President Boris Tadic has become the first Serbian leader to pay his respects to Croatian victims of a notorious 1991 massacre. During a visit to a memorial to 260 people murdered at  

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Ivory Coast set for presidential election run-off

Laurent Gbagbo (l) prevented Alassane Ouattara (r) from competing in previous polls
The presidential election in Ivory Coast is set to go into a second round after neither of the two top candidates reached 50% of the vote. With all the ballots counted from Sunday's first round, incumbent Laurent Gbagbo won 38% and opposition leader Alassane Ouattara 32%, the election ...