Fighting Fit

Credit freeze bites as zoo tries to sell Knut

The polar bear, 2, is almost ready to mate - but Berlin Zoo is unable to raise the cash for a new compound

German soldiers deemed 'too fat to fight'

According to official reports 3,500 troops in Afghanistan drink too much beer and wine and fail in their mission to train police

Ant marching across Europe could wreak havoc

Lasius neglectus eradicates native ants and other insects, and can damage trees because they farm millions of aphids

Nato on hold for Ukraine and Georgia

Only agreement is help for them to improve their militaries in preparation for eventual membership of the alliance

Island of Sark in rights breach ruling

Judges say that the unelected Seneschal, president of parliament as well as senior judge, raises impartiality doubts

Venice suffers worst flooding for two decades

More than 95 per cent of the lagoon city's surface area is submerged

Yushchenko looks to Moscow as Nato cools

Ukraine moves to soothe relations with Russia as it appeals to the alliance not to delay the offer of a membership plan

Protest is no picnic for Carrefour customers

Hypermarket pandemonium as 'latter-day Robin Hoods' make a stand against rising food prices and retail trade profits

Carla Bruni uses star power to fight Aids

Model-turned-singer cited inspiration of her brother, who died of the disease in 2006, as she is made Aids ambassador

Swiss back free-heroin scheme for addicts

The heroin programme, said to be the first of its kind in the world, was backed by 69 per cent of voters

Nato plays it cool over Georgia and Ukraine

Foreign ministers aim to appease Moscow with formula that will retain ties with eager states without offering membership

Top wine cellar to stay bottled up

Collection to make billionaires pale with envy will live in a museum

Strike threatens La Scala gala opening

Inaugural opera performance, the social and musical highlight of the year, threatened by strikes and protests over cuts

Christmas kaput as Santa shortage hits Germany

Germany's high standards of jollity and expertise means they are facing a Santa shortage this Christmas

Carla’s Aids mission gets personal

A family tragedy has inspired France's first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, to spearhead a global campaign against the killer

From the Archive: Moscow frees US pilot in swap for master spy

February 11, 1962: Gary Powers, pilot of a downed U2 high-level reconnaissance jet is released in a tense dawn exchange

Lights go out at Honecker’s Lamp Shop

Decision to replace 'palace' with a new, but old-looking one was supposed to symbolise triumph of democracy over communism

Hope Diamond traced to Smithsonian

Scientists say they have proof that diamond in the Smithsonian is a looted gem that was once owned by King Louis XIV

What to sell an oligarch during a recession

At the Millionaire Fair oligarchs still had money left for life's little pleasures, such as jets yachts and villas

Anti-piracy experts get rescued... from pirates

Employer says security guards deserve a medal for their actions despite decision to leave crew members on board