An explosion in Prague has killed the Palestinian ambassador in the Czech Republic.

The United Nations has voted overwhelmingly to recognise a Palestinian state, but the Palestinians still face enormous limitations: they do not control their borders, airspace or trade, they have separate and competing governments in Gaza and the West Bank, and they have no unified army or police.

Residents of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza dug through the rubble of their damaged homes, bridges and UN schools today, after Israeli troops pulled out following a two-day incursion aimed at stopping militants from firing rockets at Israel.

Israel today bombed the empty Palestinian Foreign Ministry building for the second time in less than a week, calling it a warning to the ruling Hamas and keeping up pressure as it searched for a kidnapped soldier.

Russia today condemned the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and in Gaza, and called for the release of Israeli hostages.