World

BBC World News

Fighting flares outside Gaza City Militants engage Israeli forces near Gaza City as "friendly fire" kills three soldiers on the third night of the ground offensive. Russia cuts transit gas by fifth Russia's Gazprom cuts gas transiting Ukraine by a fifth, accusing Kiev of stealing gas intended for EU states. US vows 'huge' marine protection The US is to establish "the largest area of protected sea in the world", banning fishing and mining, around its Pacific islands. Obama says US economy 'very sick' US President-elect Barack Obama says that America's economy is very sick and that the situation is worsening. Turkey rehabilitates poet Hikmet Turkey is to restore the citizenship of one of its most illustrious writers, the late Nazim Hikmet. Japanese whaler reported missing Rescuers hold out little hope of finding a Japanese sailor alive after he goes missing from a whaling ship in the Antarctic. French TV ditches prime-time ads State-run French TV stations stop showing ads in prime time as part of President Sarkozy's plans to reform public broadcasting. Dozens die in Guatemala landslide At least 33 people die and dozens more are missing after part of a mountain collapses on to a road in northern Guatemala. Congress launches Madoff inquiry The US Congress begins an inquiry into a suspected $50bn (£32bn) fraud allegedly run by the American hedge fund manager, Bernard Madoff. A pink iguana missed by Darwin prompts evolutionary rethink A type of iguana missed by Darwin during his Galapagos trip promises to rewrite the animal's history in the islands.