BBC News with Marian Marshall.

In a landmark judgment, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that individual Americans have the right to own guns. The ruling overturns a ban on handguns in the capital, Washington D.C. which, the judges said, wasn't compatible with the U.S. Constitution. From Washington, Justin Webb reports.

Until now, nobody could be certain whether the constitutional right to bear arms extended only to service in a militia, one interpretation of Constitution, or to individual gun ownership. For the first time the court has ruled that it means individuals.

The immediate effect is to overturn the ban that has existed for more than 30 years on handguns being kept in private homes in Washington D.C. for the ruling has far wide ramifications. It would affect other jurisdictions and other efforts to limit the ownership of guns.

Gunmen in Mexico have killed another senior police official in what the authorities say could be the latest targeted attack by the country's powerful drugs cartels. Igor Labastida, who headed the anti-trafficking and contraband division of the Mexican federal police force, was shot dead along with the bodyguard in the capital Mexico City. From there, Duncan Kennedy reports.

Igor Labastida was eating lunch at a Mexico City restaurant when he was killed. Eyewitnesses say two people got out of a car, went into the restaurant, and opened fire on him and his escorts. Around 400 law enforcement officers have now been killed in Mexico so far this year. Last month gunmen shot dead the acting director of the country's federal police force. In other cities, police officers have resigned or sought asylum in the United States after receiving threats.

The government of Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, has added its voice to those calling for the postponement in the run-off vote in the presidential election in Zimbabwe due on Friday. Nigeria said that in the present circumstances, it was doubtful that a credible election could be held. The Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has rejected any such postponement.

At his final election rally, he said his ZANU-PF Party will continue to ignore pressure from foreign countries.

"I would rather the world left us in peace. Sanctions, well, let them continue their sanctions, but we will find our way of existing."

However, Mr. Mugabe did offer talks with the opposition MDC. Its leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who's withdrawn from the election, told his supporters to vote rather than face violent reprisals.

President Bush says the United States will lift some sanctions against North Korea after it handed over to China a long-delayed account of its nuclear program. He also announced steps to remove North Korea from America's list of terrorist states. But Mr. Bush said he had no illusions about the country which he once called part of axis of evil. Pyongyang has given details of its nuclear facilities but not, at this stage, of any weapons.

World News from the BBC.

There's been widespread criticism of a proposal by the Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, the police should fingerprint all members of the Roma community living in camps across Italy including children. Mr. Maroni said this would help guarantee that those with the right to stay in the country could live in decent conditions, while those without that right would be sent home.

United Nations says in a new report there's been a surge in the cultivation of opium and coca in Afghanistan and Colombia. The head of the UN anti-drugs program, Antonio Maria Costa, said one of the most significant factors behind this was controlled by insurgent groups of large parts of the countries where they were cultivated.

"when governments lack control over the territory, of course, illegal activity tends to spread, and this has been the case in Afghanistan, in Colombia, in Myanmar, but also, if you wish, on the different type of legality in Africa."

The UN also warns that this is likely to lead to a rise in the number of people addicted to drugs because prices will be lower and the drugs more pure. The UN says it also threatens recent progress in international drug control.

United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates has blamed Pakistan's inability to curb the activities of militants on its Afghan border for the sharp rise in Taliban attacks in eastern Afghanistan. He was reacting to a report by a senior American general. The Taliban attacks in the east have increased by 40 percent this year.

The man expected to be the Democratic Party's candidate for the US presidency, Barack Obama, is holding a joint fundrasing dinner in Washington with his former rival for the nomination Hillary Clinton. The aim of the event is to shore up party unity following the hardest-fought Democratic Party primaries in decades.

Football of Spain have beaten Russia in the second semi-final of the Europe 2008 Football Championship. In a dominant display of attacking football, Spain won 3-0 and will now meet Germany in Sunday's final.

BBC News.