News
Widespread failings found in maternity care
The largest ever survey of maternity care in England has found widespread failings, with services in London criticised as the worst, the government's health watchdog said on Friday.
Brown calls for global financial reforms
The turbulence in the world's financial markets provides a chance to make widespread reforms to help avoid more crises, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a newspaper article on Friday.
Teachers to be balloted over strike
Teachers are to be balloted on a strike over pay, their union said on Friday, a move that could result in the first national walkout by teachers in two decades.
Orissa Christians told to 'convert or die'
Christians in India's Orissa state who were victims of the recent wave of communal violence are now being told to "covert or die" by Hindu extremists.
Obama plays defence on faith issue
Presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama revived talks on his personal Christian faith this week in an effort to dispel rumours that he is a Muslim.
Obama dips, but still has South Carolina lead: poll
Democrat Barack Obama's big lead over rival Hillary Clinton slipped slightly but is still substantial two days before South Carolina's presidential primary, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Thursday.
U.S. diplomat says Iran resolution 'punitive'
U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said on Thursday a new draft resolution against Iran agreed by major powers over its nuclear work would be punitive, despite Russian remarks to the contrary.
Doctor says U.S.-led air raid kills 11 in Afghanistan
Nine police and two civilians were killed in an air strike by U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan, a provincial doctor said on Thursday, but the coalition said Taliban fighters had been killed.
EU agrees goal for climate deal by April 2009
EU President Slovenia and the three countries that will succeed it in the EU chair agreed with European Parliament leaders on Thursday to aim to enact ambitious laws on energy and climate change by April 2009.
Kenya's Kibaki to meet rival Odinga for first time
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki will meet his rival Raila Odinga on Thursday for the first time since a disputed election fuelled weeks of riots and ethnic violence, the United Nations said.
Prodi braves Senate vote as pressure grows to quit
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will brave a confidence vote in the Senate on Thursday despite expectations that he will lose and be forced to resign.
Suicide bomber kills Mosul police chief
A suicide bomber in police uniform killed the police chief of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on Thursday as he toured the scene of a blast a day earlier in which at least 20 people died, police said.
Darling makes CGT concession for entrepreneurs
Chancellor Alistair Darling watered down earlier proposals to reform capital gains tax on Thursday, saying entrepreneurs selling business assets could take advantage of a lower rate.
BBC job cut talks reach agreement and avert strikes
Potentially damaging strikes by staff at Britain's state broadcaster appear to have been averted after talks between unions and the BBC over cost-cutting plans, they said on Wednesday.
Man denies murdering Rachel Nickell
A man pleaded not guilty on Thursday to the murder of Rachel Nickell, who was stabbed to death on Wimbledon Common 15 years ago.
Council tax bills to rise by 4 percent
Council tax bills will rise by an above-inflation average of four percent this year, the Local Government Association said on Thursday.