Chinese actress Gong Li is just one of many Chinese people to give up their citizenship in exchange for the possibilities a foreign passport can bring.

David Cameron's attack on Gordon Brown shows normal political hostilities have resumed.

Italian author Roberto Saviano was forced into hiding following the revelations made about the mafia in his book, Gomorrah.

Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, has won both praise for her outspoken and forthright manner, as well as her style, while being attacked by some critics as an angry black radical.

A weekly guide to the 2008 US presidential election, in words and pictures.

Marat Safin shocks Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic squeezes through but Roger Federer wins easily on day three.

The Obama campaign is actively trying to refresh Michelle Obama's image.

US presidential hopefuls react to recommendations for Iraq that will loom into the next presidency.

Japanese judges reject claims that author Kenzaburo Oe lied about the military's war time conduct in Okinawa.

Ryan Sidebottom takes Test-best figures of 7-47 as England seize control of the decider.

Jamie Coomarasamy analyses Barack Obama's key speech on race.

The president wants to go on for ever but recent protests show the people may not let him, say Africa Confidential's Patrick Smith.

Director Ang Lee criticises a reported Chinese media ban on the leading actress in his film Lust, Caution.

The Sunday Times and Sunday Express share the same concerns about widely available violent films.

A bustling port, wind whipping in off the sea, English spoken with a distinctive accent, Europe's Capital of Culture 2008 is a wonderful place. But this isn't Liverpool. It's Stavanger in Norway.

Readers from the BBC's language sites have been discussing the question: "Should everyone's right to free speech be protected, no matter what they say?"

Australia thrash Bangladesh by nine wickets in the Super Eights match in Cape Town.

Actress Charlize Theron, star of a new film about US soldiers, says she hopes troops in Iraq can come home.

As Democrats and Republicans prepare for election, the question of religious faith comes back to the fore, writes Matt Wells.

The US Secretary of State say Venezuela's decision to close an opposition TV station is "undemocratic".