News
U.N.'s Ban warns over failure on climate talks
Negotiators from 190 countries meeting in Bali to discuss climate change have "a political and historical responsibility" to reach a deal, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday.
Darfur force still faces obstacles to January 1 start
Sudan's failure to approve some non-African units of a U.N.-African peacekeeping force for Darfur is delaying preparations for its January 1 deployment, a U.N. official warned on Thursday.
Government announces national day commemorating slave trade abolition
The Government has confirmed that it will set 23 August apart each year as a day to commemorate the abolition of the slave trade.
EU leaders sign treaty to reform bloc
European Union leaders signed the Treaty of Lisbon on Thursday to reform the bloc's institutions and give it stronger leadership, marking the end of a difficult process that has lasted nearly a decade.
U.S. to do tests on Katrina victims' caravans
Federal health experts will begin testing for formaldehyde in caravans provided to people displaced by Hurricane Katrina after complaints of health problems, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
Wounded Algiers U.N. staff voice anger at blast
"It's cowardice," U.N. development worker Naima Silarbi said of those behind the bombing which destroyed the world body's Algeria office.
Five U.N. staff still missing from Algeria blast
Five U.N. staff were still missing after a bombing in Algeria in which 11 other U.N. employees died, the world body said on Thursday.
Former Canada PM says sorry for accepting cash
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney apologized publicly on Thursday for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from a German arms dealer, but he rejected suggestions he had taken kickbacks.
U.S. House votes to outlaw CIA waterboarding
The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to outlaw harsh interrogation methods, such as simulated drowning, that the CIA has used against suspected terrorists.
Red Cross says Israeli clamps worsen humanitarian crisis
Israeli restrictions have caused a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank that is growing worse, leaving hospitals unable to treat the sick and keeping farmers off their land, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.
French aid workers in Chad to go on trial
Six French humanitarian workers accused in Chad of trying to smuggle 103 African children to Europe will go on trial on December 21 after authorities speeded up the handling of their case, lawyers said on Thursday.
Iraqi children's play shows 'We are all friends'
The young performers were funny, the audience giggled and clapped, and the message at a children's theatre festival in Iraq's National Theatre was as serious as it was entertaining.
Malaysia floods kill 12
Floods in Malaysia have killed 12 people and left more than 20,000 homeless, and more rain is expected, which could push up food and palm oil prices in one of the world's top growers.
All 11 hottest years were in last 13
The 11 warmest years on record have all occurred in the last 13 years, with 2007 set to be the seventh hottest since 1950, according to provisional global data from the Met Office and the University of East Anglia.
Immigration row takes shine off Brown's performance
Rows over immigration and Europe overshadowed a strong performance by Gordon Brown on Thursday in his first cross-party grilling in parliament since becoming prime minister.
MPs say 'No case' for 42-day detention plan
Plans to let police detain terrorism suspects for up to 42 days without charge were dealt a blow on Thursday after an influential parliamentary committee said no case to change the law had been made.