News
Oil retreats on U.S. economic worries
Oil prices fell below $92 a barrel on Friday on concerns that rising consumer prices could increase the headwinds facing the U.S. economy and lead to a slump in fuel demand.
U.N. staff death toll in Algiers bomb raised
The number of U.N. staff killed in a bombing that damaged two U.N. buildings in Algiers three days ago has risen to 17 after several bodies were found in the rubble, the United Nations said on Friday.
EU backs Kosovo mission to Serb anger
European Union leaders agreed on Friday to send administrators and police to Kosovo ahead of its expected secession from Serbia, which branded the mission an attempt to create a "puppet state" on its soil.
Zimbabwe's Mugabe confident of victory in '08 poll
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe said on Friday he was confident he would be re-elected by a huge margin next year despite an economic meltdown blamed on his government.
Gaza tensions flare after abduction and funeral blast
Hamas Islamists detained an adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas's government and three Fatah mourners were killed in an explosion on Friday, fuelling tensions between rival Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.
NATO-led countries to boost Afghan reconstruction
Countries with troops deployed in southern Afghanistan agreed on Friday on the need to build on military gains by boosting reconstruction and improving the lives of Afghans.
Serbia says won't accept EU trade-off over Kosovo
Serbia would never agree to give up its Kosovo province in exchange for speeding up accession to the European Union, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on Friday.
Uganda confirms 119 Ebola cases and 35 deaths
Uganda has had 119 cases of a new strain of Ebola fever that has killed 35 people, the east African country's Health Ministry said on Friday.
Compensation body gone 'from bad to worse'
Victims of violent crime are being compensated too slowly, a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) said on Friday.
Court hears Diana's intimate letters
Extracts of intimate letters from Princess Diana to Dodi al-Fayed were read out at an inquest into her death on Friday, showing that the couple's relationship was serious and not just a holiday fling.
Meredith Kercher's funeral held
Meredith Kercher, the student found murdered in her bedroom, was finally laid to rest on Friday, six weeks after she was killed in Italy.
Christmas action to tackle domestic violence
The government promised action on Friday to help address domestic violence over Christmas when the number of incidents are expected to rocket.
Barry George denies killing Jill Dando
Barry George denied murdering BBC TV presenter Jill Dando on Friday and was told he will face a re-trial next June, more than seven years after he was convicted of the crime.
S Korea presidential election highlights Christian influence
South Korea's presidential frontrunner, Lee Myung-bak, serves as a reminder of the strong influence of Christianity on not only the country's politics, but also on its economy and social life.
American star athletes deliver anti-malaria nets in Mali
American sports stars are lending a hand in delivering 133,000 insecticide-treated nets to children and families in Mali beginning Thursday.
China Arrests 270 Underground Protestant Pastors
Chinese police forces recently arrested 270 Protestant house church pastors in an eastern province, reported a Chinese Christian human rights organisation.