World News from the BBC
Thousands of Zimbabweans have attended the official 88th birthday celebrations of President Robert Mugabe. The party included a beauty contest and a football match. Mr Mugabe told his supporters that those who opposed his stance against homosexuality and same-sex marriage could
go to hell
.
International staff working for the United Nations in Sudan have returned to the
volatile
border state of South Kordofan for the first time in several months. The UN said they returned after being granted permission by the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum.
Judges have dismissed charges against the former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in his bribery trial. The case was declared void under the statute of limitations. From Rome, here's Alan Johnston.
Judge Francesca Vitale delivering the court ruling, declaring that the case was being thrown out. The prosecution had argued that Mr Berlusconi had paid his tax lawyer David Mills $600,000 to lie in court about Mr Berlusconi's business interests. Mr Berlusconi always denied the bribery allegation.
The Brazilian military says two soldiers are missing after an explosion at its research station in the Antarctic. The blast was caused by a fire in a machine room at the base near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The Brazilian navy says the fire has destroyed the entire station and is still not under control. More than 30 people have been evacuated by helicopter to a Chilean research station nearby.