Afghanistan's ministry of defence has announced plans to boost the country's troop strength to 240,000 - nearly double its previous target.
Lula urges Israel settlement freeze
Brazil's president has called for an immediate end to Israeli settlement construction on Palestinian territory, following a meeting with his visiting Palestinian counterpart.
Match-fixing arrests across Europe
German prosecutors have made 17 arrests in an investigation into match-fixing in major European football leagues.
Asia and the United States are pulling the world out of the global economic downturn with surprising if "modest" speed, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said in a report.
Arsene Wenger is brushing off any concerns that the loss of top scorer Robin van Persie to injury will affect Arsenal's progress in the English Premier League.
