Disgraced but France still loves le Tour

For its home nation the latest disgrace in the race does little to dim the magic of a Gallic rite that goes beyond sport

Bulgaria struggles to get a grip on mafia bosses

The bungled rescue of a football club's chairman is further proof of rampant organised crime in the EU's newest member state

Rescuers get shark off hook

Divers have captured a grey nurse shark in order to remove a grappling hook lodged in its digestive tract to save its life

Chinese blackout over new Tibetan monk deaths

Sources in Lhasa claim that two monks at a monastery in western Sichuan province were killed in a clash on July 12

Israel makes arrests in alleged plot against Bush

Six Arabs are accused of trying to set up an al Qaeda cell within the country and using helicopters to attack President George W. Bush.

Australian vet rescues rare shark by pulling hook from throat

David Blyde reached between the jaws of the 10-foot (3 metre) gray nurse shark to dislodge the hook, which was stuck in its digestive tract.

Video: US Army band soldiers on after skydiver hit

Three band members were hurt at a military show when a parachutist veered off course and crashed into the musicians

Godfather of Sold: Brown auction raises $850k

Forced sale the soul legend's capes, jumpsuits and even a medical bracelet sees fans and celebrities turn out in New York

From joystick to helmet: it's all in the mind

Australian company Emotiv is expected to launch the first thought-controlled game by the end of the year

Israelis mourn men whose capture sparked war

Anger at hero's welcome in Lebanon for released prisoner who killed four-year-old, as soldiers are laid to rest

Obama targets domestic audience with world tour

The whirlwind trip will take Barack Obama to Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank, Germany, France and Britain

Pope fails to tackle paedophile priests in Sydney

Pope Benedict XVI attacks consumer greed and warns of the dangers of global warming

India’s Government accused of buying votes

An MP has revealed how offers have been made of up to 250 million rupees, £3 million, for each vote cast in parliament

Iceberg threat to Antarctic ecosystem

Sea floor being decimated by number of bergs from global warming

An American in Paris, Amman and Baghdad

What Barack Obama can expect during his international tour

'Maniacal' engineer takes city computers hostage

A disgruntled employee has locked out everyone but himself from San Francisco's city computer network

Kuwait names first Iraq ambassador since 1990

Move is key step in mending ties between the two states and evidence of desire among Sunni countries to get closer to Baghdad

Fritzl case damaged as children 'refuse to testify'

Case against man accused of rape, incest and imprisonment weakened amid fear teenagers will not give evidence

Four cleared over Madrid terror blasts

Three Arab men and a Spaniard have had their convictions in connection to the bombings that killed 191 people quashed

Nation toasts Nelson Mandela at 90

World's best loved statesman retreats to his rural roots to celebrate his 90th birthday as his countrymen pay him tribute