Andy Murray is beaten by Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun in the first round of the men's singles at the Olympics but progresses in the doubles with brother Jamie.

Scottish champions Celtic launch the defence of their SPL title with a controversial 1-0 win at home to St Mirren.

A Beijing family who fought to save their home from redevelopment lose the battle, as the house is demolished.

The BBC's Helen Fawkes says Kosovo's divisions are likely to be cemented after Kosovo Serbs set up rival institutions.

US actor George Takei and his partner were among the first Californian couples to get a wedding licence after the state lifted its ban on same-sex marriage.

BBC Sport's Colin Moffat reflects on a thrilling Cup finale

Rangers hero Colin Stein draws a parallel from the past with the 2008 Uefa Cup final

Ian Paisley and Bertie Ahern jointly open a new visitor and heritage centre at the site of the Battle of the Boyne

Rangers edge past St Johnstone into the Scottish Cup final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Hampden

With a legend's performance from Sir Paul McCartney, an on-song Amy Winehouse and the Arctic Monkeys dressed as country gents, the 2008 Brit Awards ceremony was one of the most entertaining in years.

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes visits Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) - scene of a titanic battle in World War II.

Website reader Dudley J Piggott has sent a series of photos of the inauguration of the new president of Georgia - Mikhail Saakashvili.

A charity tours the county of Wiltshire in a vintage bus bedecked with poppies.

South Africans celebrated the Springbok's victory in the 2007 Rugby World Cup as one, the BBC's Peter Greste says.

President Hu Jintao delivers a tough speech to open the five-yearly Chinese Communist Party congress.

Tears, cheers and pop music as Tim woos Wimbledon again

Ernest Bai Koroma is sworn in as Sierra Leone's new president following a tense run-off vote.

Muammar Gaddafi's son unveils a £1.5bn ecological project to protect Libya's ancient archaeological sites.

Thais have been snapping up amulets of the mythical Hindu figure Jatukam Ramathep. But is their motive more about spiritual belief or consumerism?

A leading US rights group symbolically buries a racial slur generally referred to as the "N-word".