When Rory McIlroy threw his arms into the air at the last hole it was more in frustration than delight despite holing a birdie putt at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

FRANCE recalled its ambassador to Damascus as Syrian President Bashar Assad came under increasing pressure from home and abroad, with army defectors killing at least eight soldiers in a daring attack on the military.

A MEETING of world trade ministers in Geneva to agree an outline deal in global trade talks has been postponed.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged wealthy nations to take bold action this year to liberalise global trade and help developing countries escape poverty, calling the lack of progress “perilous”.

Pascal Lamy stepped into office as the new head of the World Trade Organisation, pledging to re-energise negotiations ahead of the crucial global trade summit in Hong Kong just three months away.