News

Malaysia tightens security for torch relay

Malaysian police warned protesters they faced arrest on Monday if they tried to disrupt the Olympic torch procession in the capital, as authorities seek to avoid the kind of chaos that has dogged the relay elsewhere.

Zimbabwe sees fresh vote delay as violence rises

Zimbabwe announced a delay in the partial recount of its disputed March 29 election on Sunday, extending a political deadlock in which the opposition says 10 of its members have been killed and hundreds arrested.

Food price rises may hit growth, says Ban Ki-moon

Higher food prices risk wiping out progress towards reducing poverty and, if allowed to escalate, could hurt global growth and security, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday.

More than 80 die in Mogadishu fighting-rights group

Somali Islamist insurgents and government troops exchanged mortar fire on Sunday and a prominent human rights group said 81 people had been killed in the past 24 hours in some of the heaviest clashes in months.

Niger, hit by Tuareg revolt, adopts anti-terror law

Niger has toughened its anti-terrorism legislation to help its security forces fight a rebellion by Tuareg fighters in the country's uranium-producing north, officials said on Sunday.

50-billion pound mortgage plan to be unveiled

The government will try to ease the effects of a credit crunch on borrowers by unveiling plans on Monday to swap government bonds worth 50 billion pounds for banks' riskier mortgage debt.

UK agency says rescues more children from sex abuse

A British police agency specialising in protecting children from sexual abuse played a part in the arrest of 297 suspected offenders last year, a three-fold annual increase, it said on Monday.

Foreign Secretary urges party unity

Foreign Secretary David Miliband, seen as a possible successor to struggling Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has warned Labour to stop fighting amongst itself - or risk poll defeat.

Christians face persecution in popular tourist spots, warns Open Doors

Open Doors has urged travellers from the UK to be aware of persecution against the Christian community in their favourite tourist destinations, including India.

Willow Creek to videocast Leadership Summit to UK churches

In October and November, 17 UK & Ireland venues will be among 115 cities worldwide hosting a videocast replay of the Leadership Summit, organised by the well-known Willow Creek Church in Chicago.

Iran dismisses Bush and Brown nuclear charges

Iran said on Sunday U.S. and British accusations that Tehran wanted a nuclear weapon were baseless and the Islamic state would not stop its peaceful atomic work.

Pope to end U.S. visit with Ground Zero blessing

Pope Benedict will visit Ground Zero in New York on Sunday to offer a blessing and meet rescue workers, survivors and those who lost loved ones in the September 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

Torch protests stir Chinese nationalism

Dogged by anti-Chinese protests in Paris, London, San Francisco and New Delhi, the Olympic torch relay is acting as a catalyst for an outpouring of nationalism and indignation by the man on the street in China.

U.S. commanders urge wider Pakistan attacks

U.S. commanders in Afghanistan have recently urged expanding the war effort, possibly including U.S. attacks on indigenous Pakistani militants inside Pakistan's tribal areas, The New York Times reported in Sunday editions.

Turkmenistan officials clamp down on church teaching

Officials who raided a Bible class held by the Greater Grace Protestant church in the capital Ashgabad on 11 April have insisted that the church does not have the right to teach its own members without approval from the government's Gengeshi (Committee) for Religious Affairs

Smoke cloud engulfs Argentine capital for 5th day

A thick cloud of smoke covered Buenos Aires for a fifth day on Saturday, the fallout from field burning by ranchers that has forced the closure of highways, flight delays and traffic congestion.