Tony Blair has denied ever planning to intervene in Zimbabwe and topple Robert Mugabe after Thabo Mbeki, South Africa’s former president, claimed that he was asked to help such an operation.

The former Prime Minister took the unusual step of denying Mr Mbeki’s version of events, recounted in an interview with al-Jazeera.

World cup stadium collapse

At least two people have been killed in a partial collapse at the stadium due to host the World Cup opener in Brazil next year.

Part of the grandstand was destroyed when a metal structure buckled at the top of the Arena Corinthians venue in Sao Paulo.

Local media reported that the accident was caused by a crane collapse. Construction work has been halted at the site.

BRITISH and Portuguese police together as one team

BRITISH and Portuguese police should join together as one team in their investigations into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner says.

Currently Scotland Yard is running its own inquiry into what happened to the little girl, who vanished while holidaying with her parents in Praia da Luz in 2007, while the Portuguese authorities have their own investigation.

court order US hot sauce factory must cut smell

A US judge has ordered a factory that produces the popular Sriracha chilli sauce to stop emitting annoying odours in a ruling that has left some nearby residents worried about a possible loss of jobs at the site.

Judge Robert H. O'Brien on Tuesday ruled in favour of the city of Irwindale, where Sriracha recently relocated, saying sauce maker Huy Fong Foods must stop any operations that could be causing the odours and make unspecified changes to mitigate them.

Madrid wins without CR7

Real Madrid overcame the sending off of Sergio Ramos to record an impressive 4-1 win over Galatasaray on a night Cristiano Ronaldo was forced to watch from the stands.

Goals from Gareth Bale, Alvaro Arbeloa, Angel Di Maria and Isco sealed an emphatic win for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, cancelling out Umut Bulut’s first half opener and the sending off of Ramos.