World News Update, what you need to know

Ariel Sharon, one of Israel's most skilled but controversial leaders has been laid to rest at his ranch, ending a major chapter in the history of the Jewish state.

ELSEWHERE:

PARIS - Valerie Trierweiler, the girlfriend of French President Francois Hollande, will not be checking out from hospital as initially expected.

BELFAST - A major inquiry into historic child abuse at state and religious institutions in Northern Ireland is to begin its first public hearings, with dozens of Australian witnesses expected to give evidence.

LONDON - UK police have written to the Portuguese authorities seeking help with the British inquiry into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

ABUJA - Nigeria has provoked international outrage after President Goodluck Jonathan ratified a controversial bill outlawing gay marriage and same-sex unions under threat of imprisonment.

MOSCOW Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the legendary AK-47 assault rifle, turned to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in the months before his death to express remorse for those killed by his invention.

BANGKOK - Huge crowds of Thai opposition protesters have occupied major streets in central Bangkok in an attempted "shutdown" of the capital, escalating a campaign to unseat the embattled premier.