10 news stories you may have missed

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By Andy McFarlane BBC News It was a happy ending to 2008 for Sarah Palin, now a grandmotherThe nation has dragged itself back to work after what for many has been a fortnight's holiday. So what happened in the world in the last two weeks?

Even with the distractions of parties, presents and plates piled high, few of us can have failed to notice the ongoing troubles in Gaza, the effects of the economic downturn and the sliding value of the pound.

And only a hermit could have managed to avoid the news that England footballer Steven Gerrard had been charged with assault.

But after an unusually long Christmas break, we could be forgiven for letting the following stories slip under the radar.

1. While the passing of playwright Harold Pinter and performer Eartha Kitt hit the headlines, the world lost its oldest person. The 115-year-old <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7808767.stm">Maria de Jesus</a> died in Portugal on 2 January. Other notable departures included 68-year-old <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/entertainment/7806778.stm">Vincent Ford</a>, who penned Bob Marley's reggae classic No Woman, No Cry, and Oscar-nominated director <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/entertainment/7796866.stm">Robert Mulligan</a>, 83, best known for his classic 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird.Guinea's Capt Moussa Dadis Camara, left, spent December plotting a coup

2. Junior army officer Capt Moussa Dadis Camara declared himself President of Guinea after <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7799279.stm">leading a coup</a> in the west African state in the wake of the death of its 74-year-old former leader Lansana Conte. The move was welcomed by thousands of citizens but brought condemnation from the international community. Meanwhile, a more conventional transfer of power took place in Ghana, where John Atta Mills won a tight <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7809451.stm">presidential run-off</a> against former incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo.

3. A heart-warming tale involved Sheffield's Jim Webb, who <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7791427.stm">lent £5 to a penniless Australian</a> to pay for a ferry trip in 1969. Young traveller Gary Fenton promised to pay back the debt as soon as he could afford to and Mr Webb passed on his address. When he heard no more, he thought nothing of it. However, Mr Webb was delighted to arrive home one day before Christmas to discover Mr Fenton - visiting England - had hand-delivered a card and £200 by way of repayment, nearly 40 years later.

4. It may have dented Republican Sarah Palin's chances of becoming the next US vice-president but the "scandal" of her unmarried teenage daughter's pregnancy came to a happy conclusion three days after Christmas. Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of the Alaska governor, gave birth to a son - <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7804087.stm">Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston</a> - America's People magazine reported. Bristol is expected to marry the 7lb 4oz boy's father, apprentice electrician Levi Johnston, this year.Press headlines made uncomfortable reading for the Earl of Wessex

5. There were unwelcome headlines for Prince Edward after photographs were published showing him holding a walking stick over a black Labrador. The RSPCA said it would look into claims that the Earl of Wessex had <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/england/norfolk/7803793.stm">struck one of his two dogs </a>while walking them on the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Buckingham Palace said he had been using the stick to break up a fight between the canines. Pictures were later published showing the prince affectionately petting the animals.

6. A shopkeeper who fancied joining much of the population in enjoying a day off on Boxing Day proved people are more honest than you might think. Recognising that many of Settle's townsfolk would have a need for the items like batteries or silver foil from his Practically Everything hardware store, Tom Algie left the door open and asked customers to leave their payment in an <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/7809031.stm">honesty box</a>. He returned to find it stuffed with £187 in notes and coins.

7. Eight months after Austrian police accused Josef Fritzl of treating his daughter as a sex slave by keeping her in captivity and fathering her six children, Elisabeth Fritzl <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7804031.stm">left the clinic</a> where she had been recovering. She and her offspring moved into their own home, it was revealed. Mr Fritzl had allegedly kept three of the youngsters locked in a cellar, while the other three were raised by his wife.Postman Billy Martin honoured his predecessor Robert Cunningham

8. The school holidays did not stop teachers from causing controversy. The <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/england/london/7803118.stm">sacking of special needs teacher</a> Adrian Swain, 56 - for wearing trainers and tracksuit bottoms while on duty at St Paul's Way Community School in east London - prompted colleagues to threaten strike action. Meanwhile, Linda Kingdon - head at new Sheffield primary Watercliffe Meadow - was criticised by MP Richard Caborn for <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7809481.stm">dropping the word "school"</a> from its name. Instead, it was labelled "a place for learning".

9. The new year brought with it a range of new laws. Britain's coastguard rescue teams have been banned from firing flares during night rescues. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the move reflected changing rescue practices, including the use of night-vision goggles. Elsewhere, bereaved relatives now have the right to inspect the medical records of their dearly departed in a change prompted by the Shipman Inquiry. And possession of "extreme pornography" - showing a threat to life or depicting injury – is now illegal.

10. Finally, after another busy Christmas trying to deliver everyone's cards on time, the Royal Mail found time to <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7801303.stm">honour a postie</a> who went far beyond the call of duty. Representatives joined villagers in Ballantrae, Ayrshire, in remembering Robert Cunningham who died 100 years ago, aged just 27. He was making deliveries in a remote part of his round when a blizzard forced him to take a detour across moorland. He froze to death just a short distance from his home.