War-torn nations are the world's most corrupt, according to Transparency International's annual global survey. Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan are the worst-ranked countries for the second year in a row. Iran fell into the bottom ten countries, one of the most marked declines.
The head of the Taliban in Pakistan's Swat valley, Maulana Fazlullah, says he has escaped the army and is now in Afghanistan. He was said to be critically wounded by top Pakistani officials in July.
Israel approved the construction of 900 new housing units at Gilo in East Jerusalem. Settlements on occupied territory are considered illegal under international law, but Israel disputes this. The US government, which requested a freeze on the project, said the move was "dismaying".
Somali pirates released a Spanish trawler and its crew in return for a £2m ransom from the Spanish government. The trawler was captured in October in the Seychelles. More than ten ships and 200 hostages are currently being held by pirates operating in waters off Somalia.
Iranian police have set up a special unit to monitor political websites and fight internet crime. Most opposition websites are already banned, following a crackdown after the disputed 12 June election. More than 30 protesters have been killed and thousands arrested.
The UN food summit was held in Rome. Its head, Jacques Diouf, said he was not satisfied with the final declaration, which pledged "urgent action" to boost food security, but failed to include exact targets to reduce hunger.
In Kosovo, the ruling Democratic Party won the local elections on 15 November. The vote was seen as a crucial test of the government's democratic credentials. Officials put the turnout at around 45 per cent. Nato peacekeepers are still stationed in the country.
Two Rwandan militia leaders were arrested in Germany on suspicion of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ignace Murwanashyaka and his aide, Straton Musoni, are senior members of the FDLR rebel group, whose presence in DRC has led to years of fighting.
Honduras will not vote on whether to restore the ousted president, Manuel Zelaya, until after the elections on 29 November, a senior lawmaker said. Some regions will not recognise the election unless Zelaya is restored beforehand.
The Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd, made an apology to the half a million "forgotten Australians", including British children sent abroad under the Child Migrants Programme, who were abused or neglected in state care between 1930 and 1970. The speech echoed last year's apology to the Aboriginal community.
Peru and Chile are engaged in a new diplomatic row. A Peruvian court ordered the arrest of two Chilean military officers accused of paying a Peruvian air force officer to reveal national secrets. Chile denies involvement.
Afghan officials have announced an anti-corruption force, amid increasing Western pressure to tackle the problem. The unit will work with the FBI and the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency.
US car maker General Motors will start repaying its government loans earlier than expected. It will make its first payment of $1.2bn (£717m) to the US government in December. Repayments were due to start in 2015.
A landslide in northern China has killed 23 people. The victims were migrant workers at a coal mine in the Zhangzishan township, and members of their families. The landslide covered an area of about 20,000 sq metres.
World leaders including Barack Obama and China's Hu Jintao, said it will be impossible to reach a climate change deal before December's Copenhagen summit. It will be a "staging post" in negotiations on greenhouse emissions, they said.
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